NCJ Number
96271
Journal
Mediation Quarterly Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 31-38
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on police perceptions of the mediation process, examines why many officers resist its use, and suggests steps for increasing referrals to mediation.
Abstract
Five advantages for the police in using mediation are noted: (1) it is an alternative for addressing problem cases, such as domestic disturbances; (2) it can reduce the police presence in noncriminal interpersonal problems; (3) it can improve police management capabilities; and (4) police participation in local mediation efforts helps strengthen police-community ties. Although mediation can benefit police work, interviews with county police in Suffolk County, N.Y., and with municipal and town police department members in the New Jersey counties of Bergen and Passaic suggest that its potential has not been realized. Numerous organizational obstacles exist; for example, police are often excluded from the planning of experimental mediation projects, and there may be poor coordination between police and the courts. Traditional role conflicts also exist: many officers reported feeling uneasy about the motives of family members seeking police assistance. Additionally, officers may ignore mediation in favor of the officers may ignore mediation in favor of the conventional police role. Suggestions for overcoming these obstacles and constraints are provided, including police training in how mediation is used and can benefit police work, the development of local government and community support for alternative dispute settlement, and feedback to police about the outcome of cases refered for mediation. Thirteen references are listed.