Diverting young people from prosecution: toolkit

2. Principles

What are the Key Principles on which this Toolkit is based?

Intervention with young people who offend should be:

• Proportionate
  Diversion should only be used where the offence is sufficiently serious to merit prosecution.
  
• Prompt
  Decisions should be made within a specified timeframe with account taken of the impact of any delay on the young person's willingness to engage.
  
• Based on reliable information
  If possible information should be obtained from all the key agencies working with the young person and their families.
  
• Family focused
  Where possible the young person's family should be involved in efforts to divert the young person towards more positive life styles and away from offending.
  
• Fair
  The selection of young people for diversion should focus on their particular needs. Assumptions about their suitability for diversion should not be made solely because of generic characteristics such as gender or disability.
  
• Monitored
  Feedback information should be provided on the young person's response to diversion. Diversion programmes should be evaluated regularly and the results made available to Community Justice Authorities and Criminal Justice Boards.