Gang Mediation: Non-Violent Resolution Within a Culture of Violence

This article distills the experiences of four mediators working with juvenile gangs to suggest a nascent theory of gang mediation. Mediations with the gang population seem to be most successful with the following elements: a positive, established relationship between the gang leader and the mediator; an institutional setting; active persuasion of the gang members to come to the mediation table; respect for all participating individuals, and respect for the gang identity.