Summary
"This study evaluated the Ottawa Community Youth Diversion Program (OCYDP), a voluntary diversion program targeting medium-risk youth and structured according to the risk, need, responsivity (RNR) principles of offender rehabilitation. One hundred-and-seventy post-charge youth referred to the OCYDP were compared to 209 matched youth sentenced to a period of probation. Youth were matched on risk level, age, and sex and were followed up for an average of 25 months. Youth on probation were twice as likely to be reconvicted each month than youth who successfully completed the OCYDP (p < .001). However, youth who failed to complete the program were reconvicted at nearly two times the rate of the probation sample (p = .044). No difference was found in reconviction rates between youth on probation and youth who only partially completed the OCYDP. The author concluded that the OCYDP is more effective in reducing reconviction than probation; however, it is unclear as to whether this success is attributable to diversion or RNR-adherence."--Page ii.