ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Studies of youth service bureaus are usually based on a sample of such agencies over a relatively short time frame and typically focus on whether diversion actually occurred. The study reported here examines a single youth service bureau over a 20-year period, with a total client population of some 47,000 during this period, with a focus on diversion as agency policy. We were interested in learning whether a youth service bureau, established with LEAA funding in the heyday of popularity for diversion as correctional policy, continued to emphasize diversion as popularity and funding waned. Our findings indicate that this agency maintained its emphasis on diversion, not because of funding agency pressure, but because diversion is sound policy.
