MEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
IN JUVENILE JUSTICE

Conflict resolution education is a viable intervention strategy to be used with the most difficult, troubling, and potentially violent juveniles. Youth involved in the juvenile justice system are in great need of conflict resolution skills. Conflict resolution education programs offer youth alternatives to violent and self-defeating behavior and offer staff alternatives for managing the climate in juvenile justice settings.

In juvenile justice settings, conflict resolution programs are introduced not to replace but to supplement existing disciplinary policies and procedures. Conflict resolution requires much repetition in the employment of  the problem solving strategies for those strategies to become the behaviors of choice in pressured, stressful situations. Using mediation, negotiation, and group problem solving as a system to manage the climate within the juvenile justice setting offers a forum for practice.

The implementation of a conflict resolution program requires addressing the psychological and social development needs of the youth. Youth in detention facilities often lack the foundation skills of conflict resolution, especially those associated with perception and emotional abilities. Many of them have a long-held sense of personal failure and view success in life as something beyond their ability to achieve. Conflict resolution does provide a way to help address areas of deficiency and advance the development of life skills. Providing youth under juvenile justice authority with conflict resolution foundation abilities and problem solving skills may well be a key to preventing released juveniles from returning to the system. Linking conflict resolution training as life skills with job training and employment services is logical.

This three day workshop focuses on implementing a peer mediation program where both youth and staff serve as mediators to deal with conflict among youth and conflicts among staff and youth. The workshop begins with an overview session for staff to introduce how the mediation program supports both staff and residents in dealing with daily conflicts. Mediation training is provided for teams of staff and youth together. Training emphasis is on experiential learning, using small and large group exercises, discussion, and mediation simulations. Mediation training includes:
 

• understanding origins and responses to conflict,

• role of the mediator,

• foundation skills: neutral language, perspectives, identifying needs, dealing with emotions, active listening,

• and the six-step process used to resolve disputes.

Program implementation planning time is built into the three day workshop for staff. A Juvenile Justice Mediation Program Implementation Guide will be provided to staff to facilitate this process. During this time, staff work together to make decision regarding which conflicts are appropriate for mediation and to develop a referral, tracking and case management process for their setting.  

Participants will receive Peer Mediation: Conflict Resolution in Schools by Schrumpf, Crawford and Bodine (Research Press, Revised Edition, 1997).