DIVERSION HAS, DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, BECOME A REGULAR CATCHWORD IN THE LANGUAGE OF CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE. IT HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY A LACK OF RIGOROUS DEFINITION AND CAREFUL MEASUREMENT OF ITS IMPACT. THIS ASSESSMENT OF DIVERSION WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS IS NOT LIMITED TO A STUDY OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS, BUT ADDRESSES ALSO THE PROCESS OF DIVERSION. THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION OUTLINES THE PURPOSES AND LIMITATIONS OF DIVERSION. A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN 'TRADITIONAL DIVERSION' WHICH SOUGHT WAYS OF PREVENTING CERTAIN JUVENILES FROM ENTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND 'NEW DIVERSION' WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH WHICH AT BEST REDUCE PENETRATION INTO THE SYSTEM. AN HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON DIVERSION ARE THEN PRESENTED. A DIVERSION TYPOLOGY IS PROVIDED WHICH DESCRIBES THREE MAJOR PROGRAM TYPES: LEGAL (PROGRAMS OF THE OFFICIAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM) PARALEGAL (PROGRAMS OCCURRING OUTSIDE THE EXISTING STRUCTURE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM); AND NONLEGAL (PROGRAMS WHICH EXHIBIT FREEDOM FROM RELIANCE ON AGENCIES WITH LEGAL AUTHORITY). SITE VISITS WERE CARRIED OUT ON 13 JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS. AFTER DESCRIBING THE METHODOLOGY INVOLVED IN THESE VISITS, THIS REPORT PROVIDES A DESCRIPTIVE OVERVIEW OF FOUR PROJECTS WHICH OPERATE WITHIN THE LEGAL, PARALEGAL, OR NONLEGAL TYPOLOGIES OUTLINED EARLIER. FINALLY, AN ASSESSMENT OF JUVENILE DIVERSION PRACTICES IS PRESENTED. AMONG THE TOPICES INCLUDED IN THIS DISCUSSION ARE A CRITIQUE OF THE TYPOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK, INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, DIVERSION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS. THE APPENDICES INCLUDE THE JUVENILE DIVERSION SITE VISIT SUMMARIES AND AN OUTLINE OF THE EVALUATION DESIGNS USED. FOR THE REPORT SUMMARY, SEE NCJ-32847. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)