METHODOLOGY
This study used a comparative analysis to measure the overall trends in recidivism rates for
diversion programming and commitment recidivism rates for juvenile offenders. A statistical
analysis was conducted with the independent variable being disposition, whether the juvenile was
sent to a diversion or commitment program. The dependent variable of the study was the success
rate, which was measured as the recidivism rate one-year after completion of the diversion program
or release from a commitment facility.
Calculating Diversion Per Diem
To find JDAP costs per child per day, the program budget was divided by the number of “total
releases” [the number of youths in the program] in order to find the cost per child. Cost per child
was then divided by the “average length of stay” in the program to get JDAP costs per child per day
for all JDAP programs across the state of Florida. With more time and resources, this method could
be used for all of Florida’s diversion programs to find the per diem costs per child.
Research Barriers
One of the most significant barriers to this research was that both diversion and commitment
programs vary widely in every circuit and state. In addition, the unavailability of national recidivism
rates for juveniles made it more difficult to compare the Florida JJS to a national standard.
Unfortunately, there are very few diversion programs that service felony offenders so statistical
information was sparse. This had the potential to build a stronger case for Florida to adopt diversion
programming for first-time non-violent juvenile felony offenders. Furthermore, with few diversion
programs offered for felony offenders nationally, there were even fewer research journals
demonstrating the resulting recidivism rates and costs associated with diversion programming for
non-violent felony offenders.
RESULTS & FURTHER STUDY
Results
The findings of this capstone are consistent with the preliminary research. The contribution
of this study is compiling data on direct costs to taxpayers. According to the Florida Department
of Juvenile Justice, the overall recidivism rate for diversion services in Florida during the 2016-17
fiscal year was 11% (See Appendix B) (DOJ, 2018). For Florida commitment programs in the same
fiscal year across all security levels (ranging from minimum risk and day commitment programs to
high-security residential facilities), the recidivism rate was 35%, which is more than three times the
rate for diversion (DOJ, 2018). These recidivism rates are only reflective of misdemeanor and status
offenses because diversion for non-violent felony offenses is a new concept for the state of Florida.
However, previous studies on felony diversion programs like the Michigan Adolescent Diversion
Project show that major recidivism reductions can be achieved for felonies through diversion
programming (National Institute of Justice, 2013). Not only are diversion programs more effective
in delivering the results that the JJS aims for by drastically reducing recidivism, these programs do
so at a fraction of the cost. The current study estimates Florida commitment costs to be $151.80 per
youth per day based on Florida’s yearly commitment cost of $55,407 annually per youth (Justice
Policy Institute, 2014).
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