NCJ Number
118339
Date Published
1989
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Since France's judicial machinery is no longer adapted to society's evolution toward greater decentralization, demands for citizen participation, and the desire for greater autonomy in relation to State structures, States have begun to restructure forums of socialization to address routine conflicts.
Abstract
Compared to alternative dispute-resolution structures elsewhere, the French initiatives have an underlying logic based on management rather than on an innovative program modeled on the Dispute Resolution Act adopted by the U.S. Congress. Trends influenced by the Left since its political victory in 1981 have aimed at reducing social tensions and building solidarity through greater citizen participation in the resolution of conflicts. The experiment of neighborhood councils is the most advanced aspect of this social integration model. These councils are similar to associations, with mediation between residents being but one aspect of its activities. Regarding mediation, the most significant projects have focused on victim-offender conflict and reparation. Some other experiments in mediation have also occurred, notably in Valence, Paris, and Strasbourg. These experiments focus on minor criminal conflicts, such as vandalism, petty theft, and family conflicts. The mediation techniques used in these experiments are described in this chapter. 18 references.