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.-JI Seeking Peaceful Alternatives Not Inconsequential to Them WaIlerstedtfeels mediation is im- . partant because "those little things we think of as inconsequentiar'. CaD'- , be so important to others. - People will resort to violence as a result of minor neighborhood disputes like a barking dog. Wallerstedt says there is an old phrase used in mediation, <<It's not minor when the barking dog is the neighbor's and the lost sleep is yours." Mediation agreements can be quite imaginative; there is no set guideline for how they must be fonned. In an example of this creativity, one juve- nile was asked by the victim of his vandalism to join the Boy Scouts for One year to make restitution. The boy ended up enjoying the Scouts and learned lessons through that pro~ gram about how to treat people bet- ter. Lukes says that she gets "such a good feeling all around when the parties themselves reconcile and bring peace to that one part of their lives." Mediation is valuable in teaching offenders the impact of their actions. Wallerstedt says that, in terms of juvenile offenders, often the actions they bave taken, like vandalism, were made out of boredom. They "really have no sense of bow they are im- pacting people until they are in that mediation,'" says Bailey~Allen. '" re- ally believe that if we are only fo- cused on punitive consequences, people just get better at not being caught."' Mediation holds people account~ able. In fact:;- some juveniles have said they wouid "rather go to couu" than face mediation, because- that's. a faceless place io be, says Wallerstedl In mediation, the offender is forced to sit across from his or her victim and learn about how his or her ac- tions made someOne feel It is more effective than showing up to have "3 judge shake their finger or a diver- sionhearlng officer say 'you sbouIdn't have done that.' They know they shouldn't have done that." Bailey-Allen says the currentprac~ II IL Contact Information AllerDlltl~e Disp~ie Resolution Services 1421 Third Avenue S.E. Rochester, MN 55904 Phone: 5071287-2249 Fax; 507/287.2436 E.mail: christenson.beny@co.olmsted.mn.us Dispute Resolution Center 974 West Seventh Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 Phone: 6511292.779 I Fax; 651/292-6065 Web: www.disputeresolutioncenter.org E-mail; drc@disputereso!unoncenter.org Mediation Services for Anoka Counly 2520 Coon Rapids Boulevat<!, Suite 10Q Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Phone; 763/422-8878 Fax: 763/422-0808 Web: www.mediationservice.org E-mail: ... . . . ~nnw@"!ediai~o"!'!rrice.o~g Minneapolis Mediation pt,;gram" 310 38th Avenue Easl, Suite 221 Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 6121822-9883 Fax: 6121822.9890 Web: www.mplsmediationprogram.org E-mail: mplsmediation@m.tn.o"rg North Hennepin Mediation Program 3300 Bass Lake Road, Suile 212 Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 Phone: 763/651-0033 Fax; 763/561-0266 Web: www.mediationprogram.com E-mail: sta.JJ@medationprogram.com Rice Counly Dispnle Resolullon Program 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suile HS 125 NorIhfieJd, MN 55057 Phone: 507/644-3522 Web: http://rcdrp.com E-mail: rcdrp@clear.lakes.com tice of issuing a letter and a small fine as restitution for small juvenile infractions is not as much of a deterrent. Having mom or dad pay the fine is easjer to do than work through community service. Get Involved There are available training oppor- tunities for would-be mediators each spring. If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing such an opportu- nity, contact your local mediation pro- gram to learn more about the qualifica- tions and training opportunities. Police officers make great mediators, because they already have training in conflict resolution, Woodbury Com~ munity lusticeCoordinatorDavid Hines says. -"To begood at [mediationlyol! must be able to be neutral,: recogn~ and drop personal and professional bi- ases, care about people, understand and seek out fairness, be a good communi- cator at aU levels, and be dedicated to the work, not worried about how this may fit in the inner world of policing but involved because it is the right thing to do." If you have other questions about mediation, representatives from any of the six state mediation programs are more than happy to answer questions. AUTUMN 2004119 Ii