Individual characteristics and community context in decisions to divert or arrest

Abstract

Diversion programs are increasingly being implemented as an alternative to more severe sanctions, especially within juvenile justice. The civil citation program in Florida is unique in that it diverts juveniles away from the justice system at the earliest decision point of arrest. However, despite its growing use in a number of states, there is little research on the program's implementation and outcomes, namely, it remains unknown if the program is being applied consistently across communities and for juveniles within those communities. Drawing from the larger sociology of punishment, race, and social control literature, and the associated theories of labeling and social threat, this study employs statewide data from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to explore the community and individual determinants of civil citation's use. Consistent with the theoretical arguments of labeling and social threat, the multilevel analysis finds that community and individual characteristics, in particular race, impact the likelihood of receiving civil citation. Implications for future research, theory, and policy are discussed.

The Political and Religious Context of Juvenile Punishment: A Multilevel Examination of Juvenile Court Dispositions in Three Southern States

“…First, political context was not associated with juvenile punishment decisions, directly or through interactions with case-level factors. Despite theoretical expectations, this finding is consistent with most extant research (e.g., Nadel et al 2021; Peck et al 2019; Zane et al 2020; but see Leiber and Peck 2020). Local politics, at least as measured by gubernatorial voting at the county level, does not appear to be associated with local juvenile punishment practices.…”

“…By contrast, however, the influence of political conservatism on juvenile court outcomes is largely unknown. While some research indicates more punitive juvenile court outcomes in more conservative counties (Leiber and Peck 2020;Zane 2022), other studies have found no relationship between political context and juvenile court outcomes (Nadel et al 2021;Peck, Leiber, and Beaudry-Cyr 2019;Zane et al 2020).…”

Working upstream: A statewide analysis of individual and contextual risk factors for future juvenile justice involvement among youth receiving prevention services

“…Participation in Florida's pre‐arrest civil citations and formal referrals to the juvenile justice system were used to identify juvenile justice involvement. Civil citation is Florida's pre‐arrest diversion program that provides an alternative to arrest or formal processing for first‐time and misdemeanor offenses, with some counties varying in their eligibility criteria (Nadel et al., 2019). Civil citation programs provide several services, including assessment, treatment, and sanctions (e.g., apology letters, community service hours, and restitution).…”

Justice in Black and Brown: The impact of political control and representative bureaucracy on street level outcomes

“…States utilize various pre‐arrest diversion initiatives. Prior research uses “alternative” as an umbrella term (Nadel et al, 2021). In Florida, an alternative equates to a civil citation.…”