English, Corrections & Comparative Criminal Justice

Eryn Lipson

RE: Week 3 | Discussion Top of Form

Diversion programs

The concept of diversion is that the individual is given an opportunity outside of the formal criminal justice system, often through an informal method. Diversion can occur from any part of the criminal justice system—prison, jail, probation, and/or adjudication. The main advantage is that the individual, if successful, avoids either a more severe sanction (e.g., incarceration) or a criminal record (via expungement for nonprosecuted offenses). Diversion programs tend to be theoretically driven in the sense that the purpose often centers on a theory of behavioral change. 

Probation

Nearly 6 million adults are on probation supervision, and between 27% and 33% of these offenders are likely to not successfully complete probation. The failure to complete supervision is likely to result in incarceration—in fact, prison intakes are primarily driven by failures on probation and parole supervision. Supervisory probation is primarily concerned with monitoring offenders in the community while overseeing the conditions mandated by the court. The supervising conditions are assigned by the court and ideally should be tied to the controls needed (e.g., restrictions of movement or place that affect engagement in criminal behavior) or services/programs suitable to address the psychosocial functioning of the offender.