Youthful Offenders Gain Pro-Social Skills through Restorative Justice Intervention
Lara Vanderhoof, DSW, LMSW, MSW | September 23 | 11:45 AM-12:45 PM
Topic: Direct Service, Research | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Juvenile delinquency continues to be a concern for parents, schools, communities, and the various systems (criminal justice, behavioral health, child welfare, and education to name a few) that collaborate to support, rehabilitate, and develop healthy, productive young adults. One method that many consider, although others question its effectiveness, is a restorative justice approach to juvenile criminal matters. Restorative justice intervention can directly contribute to the youth’s ownership of behavior and harm to others and the community. As youth discover new skills through restorative justice intervention, they learn how to more appropriately respond to various stressful, pressured, or unhealthy situations and avoid re-offending behavior in the future. There is room at the table for alternative approaches to be considered as youth and their families should not be “boxed into a one size fits all approach”. One goal of this research was to understand how youth internalize positive change in behavior. The various stakeholders: youth, parents, community members, and the legal system, will gain alternative avenues that support youth long-term in developing pro-social skills. This can also be helpful to justice practitioners working in organizations that try to help offenders following an offense.
Presentation Objectives:
· Review how youth gained pro-social skills as a result of the intervention
· Examine the case studies and data gathering instruments
· Discuss the structure for conflict mediation with youthful offenders and their victim(s)