1.
POLICE MEDIATION IN
JUVENILE CASES:
ORGANISATIONAL APPROACH
EVALDAS VISOCKAS, LAW INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIA
November 27-28, Riga

2.
Why police mediation?
• Police perceptions in society:
– Punitive institution
– No moral and value alignment with community
– Us and THEY
• Police position
– Police as service providing institution
– Police faces and deals with conflicts every day

3.
Brief information about the project (1)
• Title: Strengthening of Police Capabilities aimed at
Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency through the
Implementation of the Restorative Justice Model
• Objectives:
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Overall objective – test mediation in police;
Create mediation methodology for police
Train police officers
Run piloting mediation cases

4.
Brief information about the project (2)
• Project outputs:
– Mediation guide for police officers
– 180 police officers trained
– Over 50 mediation cases implemented

5.
Faced problems
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•
•
•
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Police is already doing mediation, but it is not
officially reglamented
No mediation concept in Police
Mediation has almost no legal basis in Lithuania
Impartiality of police mediator
Too many clients. Who is police client?
Police is not ready dealing with serious cases

6.
Organizational Police mediation problems
•
No instruction, when to use mediation:
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•
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Instructions in which cases mediation can be used and
in which not,
Sequence of actions. What happens if mediation is not
successful?
No mediation in police officer functions
No mediation in police officer work load
calculation

7.
Positive Project findings: Police officers responses
• Simpler way for solving minor criminal cases
• Instant positive change of opinion about police - Police as
problem solving institution
• Better evaluation of police work, higher trust in police
• Necessary tool for police officer (mediation makes police
officer closer to community)
• Increased satisfaction with work

8.
Thank you for your attention !
evaldas.visockas@teise.org
More information on website
mediacija.policija.lt