This article reviews recent developments in the area of ‘out of court’ disposals in youth justice in England and Wales, highlighting the emergence of recent trends towards decreased use of formal procedures to deal with the reported offences of young people. The idea considers possible explanations for these developments and assesses the contribution of a number of recent practice initiatives with a diversionary orientation. The article reflects on the varying rationales underpinning these developments, and wider influences in the form of economically driven pragmatism, before concluding that in order to sustain recent achievements, diversion must demonstrably strengthen its claims to legitimacy.
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