This research paper discusses the use of mediation in dependency and other proceedings in juvenile courts and assesses its effectiveness. Mediation is used in dependency proceedings and in other cases involving status offenses, misdemeanors and occasionally more serious first time offenses, often in conjunction with victim-offender reconciliation efforts. In general, mediation has proved to be a cost-effective method of relieving juvenile court congestion and dealing with relatively minor juvenile offenses in a manner which optimizes familial, community, and victim involvement and at the same time serving the best interests of the juvenile offenders involved. Mediation is not, however, very effective in addressing the problem of hard core violent juvenile crime and its effectiveness is hampered by shortages of funds. It, nevertheless, represents a promising supplement to the existing system of juvenile justice.
The juvenile justice system has been swamped by the rise in juvenile crime in recent decades. According to Chown and Parham (1995, November), over two million juveniles were arrested nationwide in 1992, accounting for 29 percent of all reported indexed crimes and in major urban areas, one half of such crimes (p. 3). Although overall crime rates have declined since the middle 90s, the rate of juvenile arrests has not, reflecting in part the growing demographic significance of the under 18 age group. Juvenile courts perforce must concentrate on crimes of violence and other felonies committed by juveniles, but they must also handle a large number of status crimes, such as running away, vagrancy, truancy, underage purchase of liquor, etc., and
dependency cases --i.e. cases of alleged mistreatment or neglect of children. The goal of juvenile courts is to serve the best interests of the child as well as those of society. For the typical youth apprehended for the first time for a relatively menial offense, the juvenile justic...