NCJ Number
198137
Date Published
1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the objectives and procedures to be used in evaluating Poland's experimental program of mediation between juvenile offenders and victims.
Abstract
The program is an experiment in applying a new method of holding juvenile offenders accountable for the harm they cause to their victims, requiring them to make reparation for it. The evaluation of this program is critical to the future of mediation programs in criminal cases that involve juvenile, youthful, and adult offenders. The evaluation findings will be the basis for verifying and improving the program before it is introduced to all Polish family courts. The evaluation will select cases that have involved mediation between juvenile offenders and their victims in all of the five participating family courts in separate jurisdictions. The evaluation will be a comprehensive study intended to determine the views of both mediators and mediation participants, as well as the criminological and legal impact of the mediation. The primary method of the evaluation is to be active observation by mediators. Based on evaluation guidelines, mediators will prepare detailed reports on the mediation process. In addition, separate questionnaires will be completed by the offender and the victim, with attention to their views on the mediation process. The evaluation will also involve interviews with family court judges and mediators. A special questionnaire has been developed for the collection and analysis of court file data pertinent to the offense, the victim, the offender's family and rehabilitation background, the degree of the offender's maladjustment, prior family court convictions, and reasons for referral to mediation.