Citation

Alter CF. Child. Youth Serv. Rev. 1988; 10(2): 71-99.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0190-7409(88)90030-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes a methodology for conducting process evaluations of juvenile justice systems. It illustrates use of these methods by reporting the results of a study of two systems, a traditional and a diversion model, found in a bi-state urban area in the Midwest. The structure of the tradition model is centralized, nonlinear, with a highly sophisticated approach to service. The diversion model is decentralized, linear, and has a non intrusive approach to service. Discussion focuses on the use of network analysis to describe functional and structural differences between service systems in general, on the characteristics of diversion systems in particular, and on the capacity of communities to reform their service delivery systems.