In order to establish an empirical basis for guiding juvenile justice decision-making, the Crossroads Study examines the effects on male juvenile offenders of different degrees of justice system involvement over the course of three years following arrest. Long term costs and benefits associated with different juvenile justice and diversion outcomes will be assessed. Youth who are diverted from justice system involvement will serve as a comparison group for formally processed youth.
Juvenile justice programs and procedures are enormously expensive. Yet, there is a paucity of information about the long-term effects of justice system involvement on juvenile offenders. The observed inconsistency in the processing of youthful offenders, even within the same locale, is symptomatic of the need for empirical guidance. The Crossroads Study will help juvenile justice professionals to make decisions about delinquent adolescents that serve the best interest of the community, the taxpayers, and the youths themselves.