Summary:
• The total number of incidents referred to the Diversion Programme during 2009 was 23,952.
• The total number of individual children referred to the programme was 18,519.
• 14,047 (76%) children were admitted to the Diversion Programme.
• 10,059 (54%) children had their cases dealt with by way of informal caution.
• 3,988 (22%) children had their cases dealt with by formal caution.
• 482 (3%) children had a decision in their case pending.
• 1,024 (6%) children required no further action.
• 2,966 (16%) children were considered not suitable for inclusion in the programme.
• The types of offences for which children were referred to the programme were similar to those of 2008.
• Alcohol related offences (17.6%), theft (16.6%) and road traffic offences (13%) constitute the three main categories of offence for which children were referred.
• There were 1,401 (5.8%) referrals from the Fixed Charge Penalty System.
• The Garda programme of restorative justice continues to evolve with Juvenile Liaison Officers facilitating 416 restorative events.
• There were 7 new Juvenile Liaison Officer posts created and filled in 2009.
• There are 108 Garda Juvenile Liaison Officers and 8 Juvenile Liaison Officer Sergeants working on the programme.