While a new report from the Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI) suggests that “youth diversion might be particularly beneficial to children with SEND”, researchers find that “given the range of communication barriers that children with SEND face in navigating the system, they may be less likely to receive diversion, particularly where communication difficulties are misconstrued as behavioural issues”.
“Unequal access to diversion may create further disparity later on in the youth justice system,” the report states.
It describes youth diversion as an “informal non-statutory approach” during which children are offered the chance to “partake in a community-based intervention rather than receiving a formal out-of-court disposal or prosecution”.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
