Police diversion for cannabis offences : assessing outcomes and cost-effectiveness / Marian Shanahan, Caitlin Hughes and Tim McSweeney.

Canberra : Australian Institute of Criminology, 2017.

87698

Drug abuse -- Australia.

Drug abuse and crime -- Australia.

Community based corrections -- Australia.

Drug abuse surveys -- Australia.

Police diversion is widely utilised as an intervention for minor cannabis offending in Australia. This study compared the cost-effectiveness and outcomes of three kinds of diversions--cautions, expiation and warnings--with the traditional criminal justice system response of charging the offender. A sample of 998 people who had recently had contact with police for cannabis use or possession completed an online survey, with those who were diverted reporting reduced drug use and offending compared with those who were charged. The study supports previous findings that diversion for minor cannabis offences can save money and lead to better social consequences. - Publisher's website.

Title from title caption of PDF document (viewed on July 26, 2017).

"June 2017".

Includes bibliographical references.

1836-2206

0817-8542

1 online resource.