A Matched-Samples Comparison of Pre-Arrest and Post-Booking Diversion Programs in Florida’s Second Judicial District

Abstract Pre-arrest diversion programs have the potential to reform the front-end of the criminal justice system and reduce the stigma associated with a low-level arrest, but little evaluation work has been conducted in this area. The current study was designed with two objectives: 1) to examine within-program indicators of completion and post-program arrest between the Adult Civil Citation (ACC) pre-arrest and the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) post-booking program in Florida’s second judicial district, and 2) to conduct a matched samples comparison of subsequent arrest between the two programs. A prospective longitudinal evaluation was conducted from 2010–2017 to assess within-program indicators of successful completion in addition to a between-program comparison of follow-up arrest. Propensity score matching was used to compare post-program arrest rates between 7,410 adults who entered the PTI program and 1,279 adults who participated in the ACC program. Demographic background, offense type, and completion status were collected within the respective programs while follow-up arrest data was drawn from statewide records. Successful program completion and post-program arrest were associated with participants’ sex, racial background, and offense type. Although participants in both programs experienced similar post-program arrest rates, further research is needed on additional program features, including qualitative differences between programs.