NCJ Number
184980
Journal
Negotiation Journal Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 211-235
Date Published
July 2000
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article discusses mediation as a forum for resolving citizen complaints against police.
Abstract
The increasing frequency of notorious cases of conflicts between police officers and members of the general public (which in New York City has led to incidents of death, battery, and sexual assault) is cause for alarm. Many police-community conflicts result from an incomplete understanding of the work of the police, poor communication on the part of the police and the public, or simple misunderstanding. A number of communities, including New York City, are turning to mediation to provide a forum for the potential resolution of citizen complaints against police. After a brief survey of such programs nationally, the article focuses on three New York cases, using them to illustrate the pitfalls and special rewards of mediating in this context. The article claims that the mediation process itself can work in a transformative way, improving strained police-community relations. With a trained mediator's help, citizen and officer can express emotions and defend or clarify their actions and perceptions, leading to increased mutual understanding. Notes, references