NCJ Number
148520
Date Published
Unknown
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The relevance of dispute resolution programs for the settlement of youth violence can be evaluated through the assessment of different types of programs, the appropriateness of mediation in responding to issues of youth-related violence, and the accessibility of mediation programs to communities, including youth and minorities.
Abstract
Mediation is the most common form of alternative dispute resolution; an impartial third party intervenes in the dispute, with the consent of the parties, to help them reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. Community mediation programs may be free-standing nonprofit organizations or attached to another city agency or the courts. Many mediation organizations now hear cases involving youth people; the issues dealt with may include delinquency or criminal behavior, school attendance, and parent-child conflicts. Some programs have heard cases related to serious youth and gang violence, involving threats, fights, gunshots, or racially motivated violence. Mediation processes have been adapted to schools, and peer mediation programs have been established in juvenile correction and other youth facilities. While mediation may present a method for reducing the potential level of violence in a particular situation, there are disadvantages to mediation. These include lack of accessibility in some instances, and a tendency to model programs based on the concern of white, rather than minority, youth.