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Youth Services
MRJC provides restorative justice services to youth ages 6-17, their families, and the community through programs that are aimed at assisting youth in resolving interpersonal disputes, decision-making conflicts, and acts of wrongdoing or harm in a productive and educationally-proactive manner. Services can be accessed via a referral of the youth by parents, school officials, government agencies, or other concerned parties desiring restorative and mutually-beneficial resolutions to conflict.
Juvenile Mediation
What?
The Juvenile Mediation program uses a restorative justice lens to address risk factors and resolve disputes such as interpersonal conflict, truancy, bullying, conflict in the home, and runaway behavior. Restorative processes offered include Victim-Offender Mediation, Truancy Mediation, Family Group Conferencing, and Restorative Dialogue.
Who?
Youth ages 6-17.
Where?
Available in the following counties: Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, & Ashe.
How?
Mediations are facilitated by a neutral mediator who helps enhance pathways of communication and guides all parties involved to reach appropriate and reasonable solutions.
Why?
The goal of the Juvenile Mediation Program is to offer both intervention and the prevention of future conflicts that arise at
home, in school, or in the community.
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Sentencing Circles
What?
The Sentencing Circles program is a restorative model of a teen court that works to resolve conflict and reach restorative solutions for juvenile cases requiring a broader and/or more intensive intervention. Sentencing Circles utilizes trained community volunteers, peers, and circle leaders to assist the young person in proactively addressing and making amends for a harmful incident or behavioral concern. This approach implements community and collaborative aspects of restorative justice to contribute to juvenile justice system diversion and services.
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Who?
Youth ages 11-17.
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Where?
Available in the following counties: Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Madison, & Yancey.
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How?
The circle process allows youth an opportunity to accept responsibility for their crime or behavior in a safe and constructive environment. The MRJC facilitator guides the juvenile, their support members, victim (if any), and community volunteers through a restorative dialogue which addresses the harms.
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Why?
Sentencing Circles is a restorative justice-oriented program dedicated to repairing harm through the Circle process by focusing on collaboration, partnership, and consensus, resulting in more empowered and connected juveniles and communities. The vision of the Sentencing Circles program is a community in which juveniles have the power to acknowledge responsibility, the tools to create solutions, and the opportunity to repair harm alongside their neighbors as positive and integrated members of a cohesive society.
