Diversion from Prosecution Toolkit – Diverting Young People from Prosecution

Diversion from prosecution is a formal decision by the Procurator Fiscal. On receipt of a police report the Procurator Fiscal can choose to divert the young person to a local social work team or other service provider. The provider should have specific expertise in working with young people. The young person undertakes a programme and/or is directed to services tailored to their particular needs that are designed to deal with the underlying causes of their offending. Intervention in this way keeps young people away from the formal criminal justice process and gives them the opportunity to make positive changes at a crucial time in their lives.