NCJ Number
92365
Editor(s)
H Davidson,
L Ray,
R Horowitz
Date Published
1982
Length
606 pages
Annotation
This collection of papers derives from a conference on alternatives to family dispute resolution and seeks to assess the status of alternative methods (mediation, conciliation, arbitration) being implemented in lieu of the adversarial approach in such matters as divorce, child custody, and adoptions.
Abstract
The collection of 27 articles is divided into the following topics: divorce mediation, domestic violence mediation, and parent-child dispute resolution. Papers in the first section describe the actors and procedures of mediated divorce settlement, contrasting it to the traditional adversarial process and suggesting that its advantages lie in the opportunity it provides for separating marriage partners to cooperatively participate in decisionmaking regarding their children and property. Several papers deal with professional ethics issues of mediation practitioners. Individual papers discuss the emotional context of divorce, estimating caseload and personnel requirements in court-related conciliation programs, and specific programs such as the Family Conciliation Court of Los Angeles County (California). Articles on domestic violence mediation emphasize screening procedures, mediator training and intervention approaches, and the role of shelter staff in mediation. The final section relates to status offenders' and their families' needs for dispute resolution outside the criminal justice system. Some articles contain tabular data, charts, and sample forms. Appended are bibliographies and a list of American Bar Association publications. For individual articles, see NCJ 89837-43.