This study deals with decision-making procedures in diversion and victim-offender mediation. The research is based on numerous conversations between social workers and clients that were audiotaped and analysed between June 1986 and May 1989 in the course of the Bielefeld diversion programme. It is shown that informal interventions in deviant behaviour follow different principles of verbal organization than those prevailing in courts. Analyses of the style and content of informal decision-making procedures reveal structural similarities and differences between social workers and clients in diversion and mediation interviews. The potential of communicative approaches regarding procedural justice is discussed.