NCJ Number
87238
Date Published
1982
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This procedure manual for organizing a neighborhood mediation service covers needs assessment, recruiting volunteers, organizing the program, mediating a dispute, public relations, evaluation, and potential problems.
Abstract
A neighborhood mediation service involves volunteers getting together to informally resolve minor disputes between neighbors. An assessment to determine whether a neighborhood needs a mediation service should include a community survey designed to determine if residents need and want a mediation service, an examination of police statistics to determine whether the neighborhood has a crime problem and, if so, its pattern, and an analysis of court statistics to determine caseload and cost. The next step is to recruit volunteers to fulfill the functions of spokesperson, mediators, and a support committee. Volunteer job descriptions should be composed. Steps in organizing the program include (1) electing officers, (2) setting goals and objectives, (3) determining the kinds of complaints that will be heard, (4) setting expectations of caseload, (5) determining mediation approach, (6) setting a policy of confidentiality, (7) establishing an intake process for complaints, (8) setting the process for referring complaints to other forums, and (9) determining the hearing location and times. The basic steps in the mediation process itself are to have disputants describe the dispute, discuss the desired outcome, and arrive at a settlement. The training of the volunteers should include team building among the volunteers and the use of roleplaying. A public relations program should be mounted, and the mediation program should be regularly evaluated to determine its effectiveness and efficiency. A bibliography of 11 listings is provided.