Hi Kitty, that sounds interesting. I'm a trained internal workplace mediator and at first I was a bit nervous, especially the first time, but that was a success which gave me confidence and then I settled in to it. The way I view it - this is really simplified - is that I'm the "referee" that "officiates" while people give air to their emotions. Once that is out of the way, we get down to the business of looking to the future (in the case of colleagues, working together). It's almost a return to an old-fashioned way of dealing with disputes, where people agree on a handshake. I don't even have notes, or anything written down (excepting maybe jotting down a few notes for my own purposes). It's all about talking.
I'm very grateful for my training, it has helped me have great insight in to all sorts of situations and taught me to look for the "golden moment" when people extend the olive branch. As a mediator, I would then build on that and highlight it to the other person. Other than that it is agenda setting (in the beginning) and summarising at key stages.
What level of criminal acts would be subject to restorative justice? I wouldn't like to be around when emotions run really high where a violent crime has been committed. Having said that, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission is a remarkable model of restorative justice.
I'm sure there will be other (much more than me) experienced mediators amongst the Gransnetters.
