Youth Victim-Offender Mediation

A year after partnering with GlobalGiving to raise funds for our juvenile victim-offender work, we have raised nearly $20,000!  These funds give CCR the ability to assist hundreds of young people, their families and their communities find ways to repair harm and build strong relationships.

Since our last report in August, we have assisted 78 additional people through this program. Since the initiation of this project on December 1, 2013, we have helped 294 individuals in Chicago. We are really proud of the impact this program has on our communities, and are working every day to serve more young people involved in the juvenile justice system.

The conversations that take place in mediation are often a turning point for young people and their families. After committing an offense, young people are generally face exclusion from school, church and neighborhood communities and sometimes a criminal record. All of these things disconnect young people  from healthy communities and sources of support. When opportunities for community connection are limited, offenders often return to problematic behavior or gang activity.

The Juvenile Victim-Offender Medaition Program gives an opportunity for young people to share their story and be heard by their families and community members. People impacted by the offense have a chance to talk about how the events impacted them, which can be healing and restorative for them. Everyone involved talks about how to repair the harm created by the offense. Sometimes that comes in the form of an apology; other times, the offender agrees to do something to help the person affected, or do something to help the community where s/he lives. We see first-hand the impact this work has on young people and their families. 

We are really proud of the work we’ve done, and couldn’t have done it without your support.

Thank you!

• A_Tough_Conversation_Between_Mom_and_Son.docx (DOCX)