This blog post from the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides an accessible overview of juvenile diversion programs and approaches that hold young people accountable for behavior without subjecting them to traditional court involvement. It covers what diversion is, how it works (including when and by whom decisions are made), evidence of its effectiveness, common variations in practice, equity concerns (notably racial disparities), and its role in shifting juvenile probation systems toward serving those at highest risk.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation