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Mediation Somerset

Types of Conflict

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a process whereby parties (including victims and offenders) with a stake in a specific offence collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of the offence and its implications for the future (Marshall 1999).

Mediation Somerset currently works in partnership with Schools, the Youth Offending Team (YOT) the Prison Service HMPS and other agencies to provide and develop various aspects of Restorative Practice.

Although restorative principles cross over into many aspects of our work, there are three specific strands involving RJ that Mediation Somerset is involved in.

• Referrals from the YOT
• Working in Guys Marsh HMPS
• Restorative Justice in Schools

Mediation Somerset is a member of the Restorative Justice Consortium (RJC). Its principles and practice has been informed by the best practice guidelines as published by the RJC.

Referrals from the YOT

This involves a mediator working as a facilitator with the victim and the offender or meeting with the wider involvement of a family group conference. Early signs of this work indicate that some victims value the opportunity to participate and offenders have a better understanding of the implications of their actions.

Guys Marsh Prison

The project has two main objectives.
Inform new intakes of prisoners about Restorative Practice in Guys Marsh.
Work with prisoners who identify that they would like to have a communication with their victim.

RJ in Schools

Where a decision has been taken to adopt a whole school approach, the work will include a package of measures designed to provide a sustainable process. This will include

• Communicating with parents, staff and pupils. It is important to involve everyone in the planning at an early stage.
• Training of staff in RJ principles so everyone walks the talk.
• Peer mediator training for 20 – 30 pupils.
• RJ conferencing / mediation skills training for a small number of staff.