Youth Victim-Offender Mediation

Antonio arrived in the United States two years ago with his mother, Alba, and his younger brother, Gustavo. Since then, the family has lived on the South Side of Chicago, where Alba works three jobs to support her children. Despite the challenges of migration, Alba has maintained a strong and caring relationship with her sons and has taught them values that guide their decisions.

To begin the mediation session, the mediator asked Antonio to share his perspective on what happened. Antonio explained that he had gone out with classmates after school and that they stopped at a convenience store because they were hungry. Each of the youth picked up an item, including Antonio. He said he was walking toward the register to pay when suddenly the other teens began running out of the store. Feeling pressured and unsure of what was happening, Antonio ran as well without paying. The store called the police, and because a patrol car was nearby, the youth were quickly chased. Antonio was one of the first detained. He tried to explain that he had not intended to steal, but his limited English made it difficult for him to communicate.

Alba was contacted to pick up her son. When she received the call, she became extremely frightened. Due to traumatic experiences with police in other countries, any interaction with law enforcement triggers severe anxiety for her. Alba shared that even thinking about entering a police station causes her body to tense.

Because this was Antonio’s first arrest, he was referred to a diversion program and met with a bilingual screening officer. The officer explained that mediation would give Antonio and Alba an opportunity to talk about what happened. Alba agreed and requested that the mediation be conducted in Spanish so Antonio could fully express himself.

The mediation took place in person at CCR’s office. Both Antonio and Alba arrived feeling nervous, but they relaxed once they saw the space and realized they could speak in their own language. During the conversation, the mediator noticed the strong connection between mother and son. Alba shared that she felt sad and disappointed when she learned about the arrest. Antonio said he did not know his mother felt that way. He also expressed disappointment in himself and acknowledged the sacrifices his family has made to build a new life.

The mediator asked Antonio what he had learned from the experience. Antonio explained that he now understood that true friends would not put him in dangerous situations. He said he wanted to stop spending time with the group involved and focus on school and soccer, activities that matter to him and help him grow. He also shared that he wanted to improve his English and join a soccer club.

When the mediator met privately with Alba, she explained that although Antonio had lost some of her trust, she knew he had made a mistake and that it did not define who he was. Alba said she wanted to see concrete actions showing that Antonio was committed to making better choices. Together, they agreed on specific steps: completing his chores on time, maintaining good grades, focusing on soccer, and strengthening their communication at home.

In a private conversation with the mediator, Antonio described the moment in the store as chaotic. Some friends encouraged him to run, while others told him not to. He and the mediator discussed peer pressure and the importance of surrounding himself with people who care about his well-being. Antonio said he felt betrayed because he was the only one detained and his friends acted as if nothing had happened. His biggest takeaway was that he alone is responsible for his decisions and that he does not want to repeat a situation like this.

At the conclusion of the mediation, Antonio thanked the mediator and said he felt comfortable speaking honestly in front of his mother. He shared things he had not been able to say before and expressed his desire to continue building trust with Alba. Antonio also said that one of the hardest parts of the incident was realizing how much fear and trauma he had unintentionally triggered for his mother by having to go to the police station. He explained that the interaction with law enforcement had been traumatic for him as well, and that talking about it during the mediation was difficult but important. Alba expressed her commitment to supporting Antonio as he works toward his goals and continues learning to make thoughtful decisions. Both of them acknowledged that they are not people who typically express love or gratitude openly, especially in front of others, but they recognized how important it is to praise one another and offer encouragement. They agreed to practice this more intentionally as part of strengthening their communication and their relationship.