CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: A 25-YEAR PERSPECTIVE

This article reviews the creation, development, and growth of child protection mediation (CPM) in the United States. Starting with a few pilot projects in the 1970s, CPM has grown throughout the country. The article traces child protection's development through the publication of the Resource Guidelines and Model Courts and then discusses what the necessary ingredients for a mediation program are. Mediation is then discussed from a judicial perspective. Barriers to mediation are listed, followed by a discussion of special issues that arise when developing and maintaining CPM programs. The article concludes with the observation that CPM is now recognized as a best practice by most judges and court improvement professionals and that it continues to grow.     

SETTLEMENT‐FOCUSED PARENTING PLAN CONSULTATIONS: AN EVALUATIVE MEDIATION ALTERNATIVE TO CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS

The divorce mediation field has recently seen the development of several “hybrid” alternative dispute resolution approaches to child custody disputes. The “settlement‐focused parenting plan consultation” (SFPPC) is a form of evaluative mediation, conducted by a “parenting plan consultant” (PPC), who possesses the combined expertise of a mediator and child custody evaluator. This hybrid model is a more expedient and considerably less expensive approach than a child custody evaluation, but preserves the hallmark mediation principle of self‐determination. The article describes the theory underlying the SFPPC, delineates the role requirements, procedures, and techniques of the parenting plan consultant, and addresses legal and ethical issues.     

Hearing parties' voices in Coordinated Family Dispute Resolution (CFDR): An Australian pilot of a family mediation model designed for matters involving a history of domestic violence

This paper discusses the Coordinated Family Dispute Resolution (family mediation) process piloted in Australia in 2010–2012. This process was evaluated by the Australian Institute of Family Studies as being ‘at the cutting edge of family law practice’ because it involves the conscious application of mediation where there has been a history of family violence, in a clinically collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-agency setting. The Australian government's failure to invest resources in the ongoing funding of this model jeopardises the safety and efficacy of family dispute resolution practice in family violence contexts, and compromises the hearing of the voices of family violence victims and their children.     

完善医患纠纷人民调解机制的探索与思考

近年来,一种将医患冲突纳入素来被认为是中国特色的人民调解制度中之态势在全国各地蔚然成风。本文以上海为“视角”,阐述了上海引入人民调解化解医患纠纷的实践过程、突出亮点,重点剖析了当前仍困扰医患纠纷人民调解机制实施的诸多障碍,并对进一步完善医患纠纷人民调解制度提出对策建议。     

MAKING ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) LESS ALTERNATIVE: THE NEED FOR ADR AS BOTH A MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT AND A BAR EXAM TOPIC

Divorce proceedings have had a negative reputation due to their adversarial nature. Litigation in the family law field has exacerbated an already emotionally charged atmosphere. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has grown in importance over the past three decades and has helped to alleviate some of the animosity which accompanies divorce and child custody matters. Parents in particular are aided by the benefits of options such as mediation and collaborative divorce, obtaining increased control over their agreements in situations where the relationships will be continuous due to shared parenting responsibilities. However, much more could be done to increase the use of ADR in family law proceedings. Current family law practitioners could fill many roles, including mediator, advocate during mediation, collaborative negotiator, arbitrator, and counselor regarding which process to implement. Knowledge about these different roles, with their attendant skills and ethical issues, has become imperative. This Note will advocate for a mandatory continuing legal education requirement in ADR for matrimonial attorneys, as well as for the inclusion of ADR as a topic on state bar examinations. An increased knowledge of ADR will benefit divorcing parents and their children, ease an overcrowded court system, and lead to greater personal and professional satisfaction for the family law practitioner.     

GOING TO COURT AS A LAST RESORT: ESTABLISHING A DUTY FOR ATTORNEYS IN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WITH THEIR CLIENTS

This Note advocates for the creation of a uniform ethical requirement that all attorneys in divorce proceedings involving children inform their clients about alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly mediation and collaborative law. By emphasizing cooperation and negotiation among the divorcing parents, both mediation and collaborative law offer these would-be litigants the opportunity to move forward with their parental duties long after the divorce is finalized. Using the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct as a template, this ethical requirement will ensure that clients are fully informed of the availability of ADR and of the chance to forgo potentially unnecessary litigation. Ultimately, the implementation of an ethical requirement holds the potential to minimize the impact of divorce on children by facilitating the process of moving forward for the family as a whole.     

LESSONS LEARNED FROM A CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION PROGRAM: If At First You Succeed and Then You Don't…

This article discusses the U.A.L.R. child protection mediation program as well as several other child protection mediation programs in order to examine what makes a program a continuing success. Child protection mediation programs have gone through a period of tremendous progress and growth over the past 20 years in the United States and Canada. Numerous studies have shown that child protection mediation helps families and courts by lowering the amount of time that children spend in foster care and the amount of costs for courts and agencies. Child protection mediation is an essential tool for juvenile courts and the families that have cases there. This article addresses the development of child protection mediation programs, their importance to juvenile courts, and some reasons that these programs succeed or fail. Although many of these programs have early accomplishments, they have not always been able to maintain their growth or to continue to exist. The U.A.L.R. Mediation Project has not sustained its early levels of cases or referrals from court for numerous reasons. Using the techniques of other thriving programs, we will attempt to restart and re-energize the program. It has been established that the people who have a role in the establishment of a program, the funding sources and especially the commitment of the parties to the program all have a significant long-term impact. This article points out how programs should begin and proceed if they are to be a long-term success.     

大调解与我国基层法院的功能——以湖南两个县的土地纠纷调查为例

乡土社会的纠纷解决一向以提倡基层调解为主,诉之法院,又以另一种形式的调解替代,因此,我国当下"大调解"的核心其实在于法院调解。但是,我国基层法院在现有的国家权力架构中,在无法保持独立性的实际压力下,面对正式法律与民间习惯的矛盾,无法完成他们被期待的功能。多重角色的压力使他们不得不强调调解,以调解的方式来回避刚性矛盾,以保持合法性。实际上,法院如果无法解决规则之治的问题,它就无法真正实现纠纷解决,而仅仅是纠纷解决道路上的一个驿站。     

A GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: LESSONS FROM 25 YEARS OF PRACTICE

What are the essential elements of a successful child protection mediation program? What outcomes are we seeking? How do we define success? How do these inform or direct program development so that it supports these outcomes? How do we know if it is working? And, how do we start out on the right foot? We are in the enviable position now, after 25 or so years, to benefit from lessons learned from the experiences of many programs. This article provides a 25‐year perspective on key elements that have contributed to the success of child protection mediation programs.     

社区调解中的合作主义——基于西南某市调研的分析

转型期的社区纠纷以内生型纠纷为主,外生型纠纷则与经济发达程度、城市化程度呈正比,二者均属于"可控型纠纷"。作为内生型纠纷解决机制,社区调解体现出了纠纷解决合作主义,涉及"政府/社区"与"调解者/当事人"两个维度。在未来相当长的时期内,社区调解合作主义的发展向度是:纠纷解决机制应以力量整合的面目出现,强调不同调解力量的合作;政府力量与社区调解力量合作的结果在于实现一种强制性平衡与整合性均衡,通过政府主导下的基层政府与社区力量之合作实现基层社会的有序与协调;政府力量的选择性介入须严格限制,且把握好介入的适当性,以确保社区/民众的纠纷解决自主性。     

谨防诉讼调解过度化

鉴于诉讼调解在彻底解决纠纷、实现案结事了方面确实具有判决难以比拟的优势,诉讼调解在司法政策上得到支持,在司法实践中受到欢迎,具有足够的正当性与合理性。但是,我国原有制度已经为法官优先选择调解提供了充分的激励,在此基础上再大力强调调解,采取多种措施激励法官调解,有可能会造成诉讼调解过度化乃至强制化的局面。这种局面不但会损害当事人的合法权益,影响司法权威,阻碍我国的法制建设,也不利于审判效率的提高。因此,必须谨防诉讼调解过度化现象的产生。     

流动中的乡村纠纷

城乡间的巨大流动瓦解了中国乡村的传统秩序,冲破了差序格局的边界,个体得以迅速崛起。流动所带来的个体化广泛渗透入社会领域、家庭结构和私人空间之中,它直接决定了村民生存的逻辑,同样也决定着面对纠纷时的立场、观点、方式与解决办法。这种国家与农民之间关系的巨大变化也消解了乡村基层解纷组织的功能,导致乡村纠纷解决上的乱象局面。调解因此失去了其固着的组织结构,也随之丧失了其神奇的效力。在离土情境下,原有的"结构性调解"蜕变成为"尝试性调解"。     

现代社会中的人民调解与诉讼

人民调解是除诉讼之外的最主要的纠纷解决方式。人民调解的存在与发展在一定程度上弥补了诉讼在某类纠纷解决上的局限性。通过人民调解与诉讼在成本、功能上的比较,可以看到人民调解不仅能够适应和生存于现代社会,而且与公力救济共同形成了相互竞争、替代补充和弥补局限的多元化纠纷解决机制。人民调解的改革和发展是构建和谐社会纠纷解决机制的不可或缺的资源。     

现代英国家事案件审判体制的变迁及其启示

英国家事案件审判体制的变革顺应了社会发展,反映了民众呼声,从最初由宗教法院审理离婚案件发展到20世纪末建立完整的三级家事案件审判体制,即家事程序法院——治安法院中由家庭问题专家开庭审理案件;郡法院;高等法院家事法庭。英国家事案件审判体制变迁的司法理念包括建立专门的家事法庭;设立专门的保护儿童权利的机构;重视和解和调解工作。对我国未来司法体系变革的启示是：建立专门的家事合议庭;建立配套的儿童保护机构;完善家事纠纷中的法院调解。     

A COMMENT ON WILLIAM J. HOWE AND HUGH MCISAAC'S ARTICLE “FINDING THE BALANCE” PUBLISHED IN THE JANUARY 2008 ISSUE OF FAMILY COURT REVIEW

This article is a response to an article written by William Howe and Hugh McIsaac that questions their recommendations that court‐based mediation not be used when certain types of persons appear in court. We assert that it will be very difficult for the court to identify these people. Further, we argue that mediation practice has advanced so far that even these persons (those with serious issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health) should be given an opportunity to participate in mediation before being referred to the adversarial court process.     

WHAT WE KNOW NOW: FINDINGS FROM DEPENDENCY MEDIATION RESEARCH

After approximately 15 years of research on court-based dependency mediation programs, answers have emerged for many, but not all, of the questions that surround dependency mediation. This article explores what has been learned about court-based dependency mediation through research and what new and persisting questions remain. The article reviews empirical studies of child protection mediation. The topics considered include what we have learned about the organization and structure of mediation programs, what have we learned about settlement in mediation, and whether there are benefits to mediation beyond the mere fact that settlements are reached.     

MEDIATIVE EVALUATIONS: THE PROS AND PERILS OF BLENDING ROLES

Child custody evaluators with experience in mediation may be tempted to use mediation skills and strategies in their evaluation processes. This article explores the benefits and risks of blending mediation with evaluation, comparing the perspectives of professionals and clients.     

Alternative dispute resolution and mediation of complaints against police in Australia and New Zealand

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the role of alternative dispute resolution options in the complaints management systems of the eight policing jurisdictions in Australia and the single jurisdiction of New Zealand. The available literature shows that a large proportion of complainants would like to participate in mediation, and that both complainants and police who experience mediation report much higher rates of satisfaction than those experiencing traditional adversarial investigative and adjudicative processes. Experiences with informal dispute resolution or ‘conciliation’ options are more mixed, and they are susceptible to tokenism and misuse as a convenient administrative means of disposing of complaints. Despite this situation, the data obtained from police and oversight agency sources in this study showed that options were limited to informal resolution conducted by senior officers, with an ostensible focus on behavioral improvement but with no meaningful publicly available data on outcomes. The paper concludes by advocating for a best practice complaints management system that includes mediation within a consultative framework focused on behavioral improvement.     

论中国知识产权纠纷行政调解简

中国知识产权纠纷行政调解是伴随着政府服务功能的发展，从行政裁决范畴中独立出来的一种服务性行政事实行为。然而，以《专利行政执法办法》为样本进行剖析的结果显示，知识产权领域的行政调解目前在性质上仍然被视为是一种行政执法行为，调解过程习惯性地被烙上了行政执法的色彩，其实施效果不尽如人意。中国知识产权纠纷行政调解应尽快实现从传统执法到现代服务理念的更新；通过制定专门的《知识产权行政调解办法》，从制度层面切实推进行政调解服务主体的多样化、服务对象的类型化、服务程序的精细化和服务损害的可救济化。在实践层面，应积极探索知识产权行政调解协议的司法确认，克服基层人民法院的管辖权障碍，实现行政调解和司法程序的有机衔接和良性互动。