Legislation contained in the Young Offenders Act 1994, gives police officers the discretionary power to use diversionary options when dealing with a young person who commits an offence. Instead of an arrest and subsequent court appearance, police officers can issue a formal written caution or refer the matter to a Juvenile Justice Team.

Where the matter is referred to a Juvenile Justice Team, the consultative process also includes a Department of Justice Juvenile Justice Team Coordinator and any other relevant persons. No criminal conviction is recorded against the young person if police use diversionary options.

This system gives young people the opportunity to come to the realisation that there are consequences to their behaviour and that they are responsible for their own actions.

The Western Australian State Government acknowledged in the early nineties, that no single agency acting in isolation could achieve genuine reductions in juvenile crime and that this could only be done, by establishing strategic partnerships with other agencies and the community.

The Young Offenders Act 1994 and use of diversionary options by police has revolutionised the way in which early and minor offenders are managed in Western Australia.