Problems of Administering Dispute Resolution Programs (From Mediation in the Justice System - Conference Proceedings, P 68-98, 1983, Marie R Volpe et al, ed. - See NCJ-92471)

• NCJ Number: 92476
• Author(s): B Brodski; D Forrest; J Kowalewski; E Odom; M Smith
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 31 pages
• Sale Source: American Bar Association
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This discussion by representatives of several mediation programs in New York State noted that the main problems involved in operating these programs are staff burnout, large caseloads, difficulties in finding volunteer mediators, and the need to be conscious of security.

Abstract

In a school mediation program, resistance from principals and the teacher's union was also a problem. The mediation centers handled mainly landlord-tenant cases, youth cases, neighborhood disputes, family disputes, and consumer-merchant disputes. Some programs receive referrals mainly from the community, while others receive their referrals largely from the criminal justice system. Other topics discussed by the panelists included the scheduling of cases, methods of getting disputing parties to come to the center, the training of mediators, the supervision of volunteer mediators, and the enforcement of agreements. The panelists also answered questions regarding the structure of the organizations, the handling of people who repeatedly use the centers, the use of bilingual mediators, methods of securing community referrals, and the management of satellite centers.