Lancaster County
Human Services
Human Services
lancaster.ne.gov
The purpose of Juvenile Diversion Services is to divert youth that have committed law violations from involvement in the formal criminal justice process. The foremost goal of Juvenile Diversion Services is to prevent youth from any further participation in criminal behavior and activity. The purpose of this program is not to have a youth avoid consequences for his or her behavior, but to provide the youth with consequences based upon restorative principle and to assist the youth in comprehending and accepting the consequences of the criminal behavior.
The services a youth receives shall be as flexible and individualized as possible, and shall seek to educate the youth on the unique harm his or her actions have caused a particular victim, the family, the community as a whole, as well as the harm the action may have caused the youth.
Juvenile Diversion Services will provide a central point where youth with law violations will be directed for assessment and will be referred to various existing diversion activities within the community. If a diversion activity does not exist, Juvenile Diversion Services will strive to create the service and complete the continuum.
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LANCASTER COUNTY STATISTICS Youth Admitted to the Juvenile Detention Center1 1998-2002 (Calendar Year) |
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| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
| Number of youth referred to Juvenile Diversion by the City and County Attorney | 1618 | 1317 | 1291 | 1051 | 1182 |
| Number and percent of females referred to Juvenile Diversion | 589 36% |
473 36% |
469 36% |
371 36% |
410 35% |
| Number and percent of males referred to Juvenile Diversion | 1029 64% |
844 64% |
822 64% |
680 64% |
772 65% |
| Average age of youth referred to Juvenile Diversion | 15.5 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 15.4 | 15.5 |
| Number of tickets (and percent of referrals) returned because the youth did not complete an intake with Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | 241 19% |
144 14% |
177 15% |
| Number of Caucasian youth (and percent of returns) because the youth did not complete an intake with Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | Not available | 96 67% |
116 66% |
| Number of minority youth (and percent of returns) because the youth did not complete an intake with Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | Not available | 48 33% |
61 34% |
| Number of youth enrolled in Juvenile Diversion | 1197 | 1027 | 1048 | 908 | 1004 |
| Percent of cases referred where the youth enrolls in diversion | 74% | 78% | 81% | 86% | 85% |
| Number of youth (and percent of youth enrolled) who completed the intake but did not sign Diversion Agreement | Not available | Not available | 59 6% |
42 5% |
51 5% |
| Average number of days youth remain on a Juvenile Diversion Program* | Not available | 105 days | 150 days | 132 days | 154 days |
| Youth who were not successful in Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | 222 | 169 | 240 |
| Number (and Percent) of Caucasian youth who were not successful in Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | 114 51% |
129 76% |
167 70% |
| Number (and Percent) of minority youth who were not successful in Juvenile Diversion | Not available | Not available | 108 49% |
40 24% |
73 30% |
1Data provided by the Lancaster County Juvenile Diversion Program operated by CEDARS Youth Services.
*Fiscal year (July 1 -June 30)