Examines developments in the community mediation field over the past two decades & reviews the field's major achievements & ongoing challenges. The evolution of the field, the diversification of services, & major resources available to the field are reviewed & research findings dealing with community mediation are also examined. Information for the report was obtained from: a review of literature in the field, an examination of materials obtained from programs across the country, discussions with experts in the field, & site visits to innovative programs in CA, NY, & NC. Charts & graphs. Resource listing.
In recent years the mediation movement has seen tremendous growth with significant advances being made in both research and practice. Despite these advances, reseachers and practitioners have remained relatively isolated from one another. Bridging the gap, COMMUNITY MEDIATION is dedicated to the mutual education of both researchers and mediators. It makes the findings of research accessible to practitioners and the issues of concern to practice available to researchers. Thus, this handbook affords researchers an excellent opportunity to learn more about actual techniques and enables practitioners to benefit from the latest research in the field.
Drawing on the experience of more than 175 mediators from across the spectrum of mediation practice and among different geographic regions, such as the U.S., Australia, Europe, Israel, and Canada, this book presents the best practices for mediators to emulate.
"The Possibility of Popular Justice is essential reading for scholars and practitioners of community mediation and should be very high on the list of anyone seriously concerned with dispute resolution in general. The book offers many rewards for the advanced student of law and society studies." --Law and Politics Book Review "These immensely important articles--fifteen in all--take several academic perspectives on the [San Francisco Community Boards] program's diverse history, impact, and implications for 'popular justice.' These articles will richly inform the program, polemical, and political perspectives of anyone working on 'alternative programs' of any sort." -- IARCA Journal "Few collections are so well integrated, analytically penetrating, or as readable as this fascinating account. It is a 'must read' for anyone interested in community mediation." --William M. O'Barr, Duke University "You do not have to be involved in mediation to appreciate this book. The authors use the case as a launching pad to evaluate the possibilities and 'impossibilities' of building community in complex urban areas and pursuing popular justice in the shadow of state law." --Deborah M. Kolb, Harvard Law School and Simmons College Sally Engle Merry is Professor of Anthropology, Wellesley College. Neal Milner is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Program on Conflict Resolution, University of Hawaii.
Looks at mediation as it can be applied to resolving community and neighbourhood disputes. The book covers the history and theory of mediation practices before looking at how these can work in practice by analyzing the mediation process and examining detailed case studies. It goes on to look at the organizational structures which allow these processes to be delivered, from model structures and services to advice on recruitment and training. The book also examines practical issues such as the importance of equal opportunities in community mediation schemes, how to maintain standards and get accreditation, and how to maintain cost-effectiveness.
From its small beginnings in the UK 15-20 years ago, mediation has become well-known as a more positive method of resolving conflict than the adversarial methods we have been accustomed to using. Reflecting the range of contexts in which mediation is now used, this book includes chapters on: history of mediation in the UK mediation with divorced and separated couples peer mediation in schools resolving neighbour disputes in rural and urban settings victim-offender mediation and conferencing resolving workplace and industrial disputes commercial mediation dealing with patients' complaints about doctors elder mediation environmental mediation and consensus building international mediation. Drawing on their own experiences as mediators, the contributors to this book discuss the benefits and drawbacks of mediation in particular settings and use case studies to illustrate how mediation works in practice. This book provides a comprehensive overview of mediation for those wanting to find out more, or those beginning in the field, as well as containing useful information and advice for anyone involved in mediation.
