REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Diversion
Social Factors
Countless studies have shown that the more risk factors present and the earlier the juvenile
starts exhibiting delinquent behavior, the more likely the juvenile is to recidivate (Dembo et al., 2008).
The Post-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program in Florida uses a standardized test that assesses the
psychosocial risks and needs of first-time non-violent juvenile offenders (Dembo et al., 2008). A study
conducted by Richard Dembo et al., measured the effectiveness (measured as recidivism within one year)
of the program using a sample of 409 youth during a 3-month span of 2003 (Dembo et al., 2008).
Dembo’s preliminary research found that, “among the youths arrested in Miami-Dade County between
2003 and 2005, 39.8% were released into the custody of their parent(s) or guardian(s), 8.0% were placed
on home detention (i.e. human or electronic monitoring), 39.2% were held in secure detention, and a
mere 13.0% were referred to the Post-Arrest Diversion program” (Dembo et al., 2008).
Dembo found that the correlation between offending at a younger age and the increased risk of
both short and long-term recidivism demonstrates the need for front-end [pre-arrest] diversion
programs to intervene in the youth’s problematic behavior and prevent the youth from exhibiting the
same negative behaviors in the future (Dembo et al., 2008). Dembo also notes that front-end diversion
is offered at the best timing for youth and their families because this is when they are likely to be most
receptive (Dembo et al., 2008). In addition, risk factors like, “poor family functioning such as attachment
problems, child maltreatment, and poor parenting skills (e.g. limit setting problems, lack of supervision,
inconsistent or harsh discipline) increase the likelihood of delinquent offending” as does “peer problems
such as deviant peer associations and peer rejection” and “education difficulties related to special
education and remediation, academic difficulties such as truancy, poor academic performance, and low
educational commitment” (Dembo et al., 2008).
Dembo brings up a crucial point. Even though static factors that make youth more likely to
offend or reoffend like race and gender are important crime-predictors, they are unchangeable (Dembo
et al., 2008). Dembo suggests the focus of treatment and prevention should be dynamic factors like a
youth’s attitudes and perceptions, emotional well-being, relationships in the youth’s life, and education,
which can change and show quantifiable results (et al., 2008). The Post Arrest Diversion program (PAD)
uses a 52 question “yes/no” assessment (MAYSI-2) to recognize potential mental health or substance
abuse issues using seven subscales: 1) alcohol/drug use, 2) somatic complaints, 3) traumatic experiences,
4) anger/irritability, 5) thought disturbances, 6) depressed/ anxious, and 7) suicidal ideation, where the
youth scores 1) caution or 2) warning (Dembo et al., 2008).
PAD also administers a test that measures a youth’s risk of recidivism called The Youth Level of
Service/ Case Management Inventory (YSL/CMI) that covers 1) history of delinquency, 2) family
circumstances/parenting, 3) education/employment, 4) peer relations, 5) substance abuse, 6) leisure/
recreation, 7) personality/ behavior, and 8) attitudes/orientation (Dembo et al., 2008). This test reflects
an individualized supervision intensity plan that allows the case worker to identify and proactively
intervene in the youth’s problematic behaviors and patterns of thinking and objectively assess a youth’s
risk to public safety (Dembo et al., 2008). From there, a supervision intensity plan is recommended and
approved by the local State Attorney’s Office (SAO) (Dembo et al., 2008). When the youth’s plan is
complete [put together by the PAD assessor, based on both assessments and approved by the PAD
clinical staff and SAO, as well as, signed by the youth and his or her parent(s)], youth with limited
psychosocial problems, identified at a low-risk of recidivism, could complete the program in 90 days
(Dembo et al., 2008). Youth with substance abuse issues or at a high-risk of recidivism would stay in
the PAD program a year or longer (Dembo et al., 2008). Dembo’s (et al.) results showed that “overall, 293
(72%) successfully completed PAD [between 2003 and 2005]. Most of the 116 youths failing PAD did
not complete their required sanctions (66%), while 34% were arrested on new charges and subsequently
failed PAD” (2008).
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