Juvenile sex offenders in diversion

This study was designed to address the treatment of juvenile sex offenders within diversion programs. Using data from 32 diversion programs in Colorado during the 1998-1999 fiscal year, the study observed the demographic and legal characteristics of 112 juvenile (Mean age = 14.64) sex offenders referred to diversion programs for seven types of sex assault, incest, and indecent exposure charges. Descriptions of services offered to juveniles and their in-program outcome were also observed. Data support previous contentions in the literature that diversion is an option for adjudicated juvenile sex offenders as well as diversion's traditional nonadjudicated population. However, the assumption that only nonserious juvenile sex offenders are referred to diversion was challenged by the data observed in this study.