Journal article
Exploring police use of diversion for sexual offences
Policing, Vol.Advanced access
13-May-2026
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the role of police as gatekeepers to the criminal justice system through their use of diversionary mechanisms in response to sexual offending.
Design/methodology/approach
The study involves statistical analyses of existing police administrative data (from 2012–21) obtained from one Australian jurisdiction, Queensland.
Findings
Young people were more likely to receive a diversionary response than adults (i.e. more than 99%), with diversionary actions increasing slightly over time, and most being police cautions (i.e. 84.9%). Compared to young males, young females were more likely to receive a diversionary response, which was more likely to be a caution than a conference referral. This pattern was consistent over time; young people from First Nations backgrounds were less likely to receive a diversionary response than non-Indigenous young people, but if they received one, they were more likely to be referred to a restorative justice conference than non-Indigenous young people. This was also a consistent pattern over time.
Research limitations/implications
This study highlights the need for further research into the factors shaping police use of diversion in sexual offence cases, to better understand in what circumstances it is being used, and where it could be leveraged further, as appropriate.
Originality/value
This study offers a novel exploration of police actions in response to sexual offending, focusing on the mechanism of police diversion. It delineates the use of diversionary options over time, across offence types, and by gender, age and cultural heritage, providing fresh insights into the use of diversion in policing practice for sexual offence cases.
Details
- Title
- Exploring police use of diversion for sexual offences
- Authors
- Stephanie Price (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastNadine McKillop - University of the Sunshine CoastSusan Rayment-McHugh - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Policing, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Emerald Publishing Limited
- DOI
- 10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2025-0224
- ISSN
- 1758-695X
- Copyright note
- © Stephanie Price, Nadine McKillop and Susan Rayment-McHugh. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Law and Society; Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991228954402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
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