1. Many social scientists argue in favor of diversion programs because:

A. they are sociologically effective, even though they do not reduce court backlog.
B. they increase the costs of criminal processing, but are worth it in the long run.
C. although the purpose of the criminal justice process is to protect society, it often contributes to the very behavior it is trying to eliminate.
D. being forced to interact with more experienced criminals in jail is good for developing social skills.

is it C

To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the given options.

A. This option suggests that diversion programs are sociologically effective, even though they do not reduce court backlog. However, it doesn't directly explain why social scientists argue in favor of diversion programs.

B. According to this option, diversion programs increase the costs of criminal processing but are worth it in the long run. While this may be a valid point, it doesn't specifically address the argument made by social scientists in favor of diversion programs.

C. This option states that although the purpose of the criminal justice process is to protect society, it often contributes to the very behavior it is trying to eliminate. This answer seems to align with the argument made by social scientists in favor of diversion programs, as they suggest that traditional criminal justice processes can perpetuate criminal behavior rather than effectively addressing it.

D. This option suggests that being forced to interact with more experienced criminals in jail is good for developing social skills. It seems unrelated to the argument in favor of diversion programs and does not directly address why social scientists support them.

Based on the analysis, option C seems to be the most accurate and relevant answer to why social scientists argue in favor of diversion programs. This option highlights the notion that the criminal justice process can contribute to the very behavior it aims to eliminate, which likely aligns with the rationale behind diversion programs. Therefore, the correct answer is C.