Youth Outcomes in Juvenile Justice: Comparing Detention and Diversion and Evaluating Oregon’s Alignment with National Evidence

Title
Youth Outcomes in Juvenile Justice: Comparing Detention and Diversion and Evaluating Oregon’s Alignment with National Evidence
Creator
Monique A. Ortega
Degree Name
Master of Science in Justice Studies
Project Type
thesis
Date
6/13/2026
Abstract
Research on juvenile justice interventions increasingly examines how system responses shape youth outcomes, particularly recidivism and long-term development. Although detention remains a common response to delinquency in the United States, a growing literature suggests community-based interventions yield more favorable outcomes across educational engagement, behavioral health, and prosocial development. Yet variation in program design, outcome measurement, and jurisdictional practice limits clarity about what works, for whom, and under what conditions.

This project aimed to (1) evaluate the comparative effectiveness of detention versus community-based interventions, (2) identify intervention components most consistently linked to improved outcomes, and (3) examine how Oregon's practices align with national evidence. Using a qualitative synthesis of secondary data, peer-reviewed literature, national policy analyses, and administrative reports, findings indicate that community-based interventions incorporating family engagement, mentoring, therapeutic services, and structured supervision are more consistently associated with reduced reoffending and improved development. Detention, by contrast, frequently disrupted protective factors like education and family stability.

Oregon's system showed structural alignment with evidence-informed practices through diversion and community programming, but limited outcome tracking constrains evaluation. These findings demonstrate that effective responses depend on aligning intervention context, program design, and data systems, clarifying how approaches shape outcomes and where system-level gaps persist.
Keywords
Community-based diversion
Oregon youth outcomes
Juvenile justice interventions
Committee Member
Misty Weitzel
Omar Melchor-Ayala
Terry Gingerich
Rights
Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 07/27/2026, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
License
CC-BY-NC-ND
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Language
eng
Type
text
data