SOC209H5 Lecture 11: SOC209H5-LECTURE-11
Document Summary
Diversion programs have been a feature of canadian criminal justice for decades. Most diversion programs require that offenders acknowledge responsibility their behavior and agree to fulfill certain conditions within a specified time. These may include attending an alcohol or drug treatment program, completing a number of community service hours, or meeting other requirements. If these conditions are met, the charges are withdrawn, and the person does not have a criminal record. A potential unanticipated consequence of diversion programs is net-widening. Net-widening refers to involving offenders who would otherwise have been released outright by police or not charged by crown counsel. Intermediate sanctions: a term which is used to describe a wide variety of correctional programs that generally fall between traditional probation and incarceration, although specific initiatives may include either of these penalties as well. The primary objective of intermediate sanctions is to hold offenders responsible for their behavior through restrictive and intensive interventions.
