Restorative Justice - Youth Program
What is MCRJ’s Youth Program?
MCRJ’s Youth Program is a spin-off of our program for adult offenders. MCRJ began serving juvenile clients through our Peer-Conferencing Program in May 2007.
MCRJ provides an individualized process in which juvenile offenders engage in restorative conferencing with a very small group of community volunteers 2 to 3 times over a 6-month period. Offenders also meet with the Youth Coordinator as needed to discuss progress and receive support.
Offenders typically range in age from 13 to 17, while youth volunteers range in age from 10 to 17. MCRJ accepts cases from all over the City of Minneapolis and is currently receiving juvenile referrals from Hennepin County Probation and Operation De Novo, an agency that provides services to youth cited for delinquency. We also accept cases for school-based offenses from high schools and community organizations. Juvenile offenders participating in MCRJ’s Peer-Conferencing Program meet with trained youth volunteers and other community members as well as any direct victims an offender may have harmed. Family members of victims and offenders are also welcome to attend. During the initial peer-conference, the offender, victim(s), and youth volunteers discuss what happened and how the offender has harmed the victim(s) and the community. Victims and family members are given the opportunity to explain how they have been affected by the offender’s actions. Those attending the peer-conference then work together to develop a written contract outlining the steps the offender will take to repair the harm caused to the victim(s) and the community. Victims are encouraged to attend, but are not required to do so. Youth volunteers will stand in as community members in cases where victims do not wish to participate.
What is the purpose of MCRJ’s Youth Program?
The primary purpose of MCRJ’s Peer-Conferencing Program is to engage juvenile offenders in activities that will give them an increased sense of community and belonging. Ideally, youth who see themselves as valued members of a community are less likely to engage in behavior that harms that community. MCRJ trains youth volunteers in restorative practices and teaches them how to participate in peer-conferences, which are overseen by adult volunteers. In addition, youth volunteers who share their time are empowered to take a stand against crime and negative behavior occurring in the community in which they live or attend school.
How can juvenile offenders make amends?
Juvenile offenders are typically required to perform community service hours and participate in community-based programming. Offenders may be asked to volunteer for community events such as May Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Other options for making amends include attending MCRJ Street Law classes in which offenders have the opportunity to learn conflict negotiation and other skills, meeting with mentors or tutors, attending counseling sessions and, meeting with an employment counselor. MCRJ recently developed a partnership with The Link to provide Health Realization classes to MCRJ clients and volunteers.
What is the time commitment for participants and volunteers?
Most offenders will complete their contracts over a 6-month period, during which they will attend two additional peer-conferences. Offenders will complete a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 community services hours (which includes participation in community programming) over a 6-month period.
The training for youth volunteers lasts approximately 3 hours. Youth volunteers may be able to earn community service credits for school or other program-related credits (such as service learning credits) through their work for MCRJ. Youth volunteers may volunteer for as many or as little hours as they like. However, because consistency is important to the peer-conferencing process, youth volunteers are asked to commit to attending all three peer-conferences for a particular offender, which is about 5 volunteer hours over a 6-month period. Peer-conferences will be held twice a month from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Hennepin Powderhorn Partners (1201 East Lake Street).
For further information regarding MCRJ’s Youth Program please contact Youth Coordinator Cate Long at 612-543-2231 or cate@ppna.org.
