NCJ Number
144142
Editor(s)
M Smith
Date Published
1989
Length
84 pages
Annotation
This conflict management curriculum for adolescents is one in a series of three manuals prepared to help juvenile correctional facilities implement the Youth Corrections Mediation Program developed by the New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution in conjunction with three juvenile facilities operated by the New Mexico Youth Authority.
Abstract
The three facilities include a maximum-security boys training school, a medium-security diagnostic center, and a minimum-security halfway house. Goals of the Youth Corrections Mediation Program are to teach communication and conflict resolution skills to staff and residents in juvenile correctional facilities, to improve the quality of life in these facilities, and to ease the transition of youth from correctional facilities to the home environment. The mediation process allows parties to express their feelings and points of view, identify needs, clarify issues, explore solutions, and negotiate an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties. This first program manual consists of 15 lessons sequenced to build and reinforce conflict resolution skills. The curriculum is divided into four sections: understanding conflict, communication skills, managing anger, and problem-solving skills. Each lesson outlines objectives, materials needed to teach the lesson, a lesson overview for the instructor, and a detailed set of procedures. Many lessons have an accompanying handout, and they have been written to accommodate the developmental needs of adolescents in juvenile correctional facilities and to suit various learning styles. The curriculum is most effectively taught over a period of 3 to 6 weeks.