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State research finds wide variation in juvenile diversion practices; data standards planned under HB 1391
Summary
Dr. Lindsey Beach told the commission that HB 1391 research finds counties share the goal of reducing recidivism but vary widely in diversion definitions, available options and referral patterns; a July report is due with a second data-focused report to follow.
Dr. Lindsey Beach, senior researcher with the Washington State Center for Court Research, presented an overview of work required by House Bill 1391 to create shared definitions and statewide diversion data standards.
"When I asked what the goal of diversion is, every single county said to reduce recidivism," Dr. Beach said, outlining the report’s aims: clarifying diversion definitions, documenting county-by-county differences, identifying barriers to implementation, and proposing data-quality improvements.
Beach said the first report — due to the legislature in July — provides a statewide landscape while a second, quantitative report will dive into data standards and propose an annual reporting framework. Her team visited juvenile courts across Washington, interviewed juvenile administrators, diversion staff, prosecutors and community partners, and convened a working group that included advocates, prosecutors and a person with lived diversion experience.
Key findings presented include large variations in the menu of diversion options, inconsistent referral patterns from prosecutors, limited dedicated funding for diversion in many counties, and differences in whether courts view repeat referrals as failures or normal stages of youth development. Beach highlighted King County’s separate prosecutorial diversion pathway as distinct from court-run diversion in other counties.
Commissioners asked detailed questions about measurement of success, felony diversion rates, counsel involvement before diversion, and funding sources. Beach said the July report will include definitions and that the second report will focus on data comparability and standards.
The commission invited Beach to return in July after the report is published to present more detailed findings and to advise on data standards and possible implementation steps for courts and community partners.
