Sorting It Out: A Community Mediation Training Program at a Therapeutic Prison

McWilliam, NJ; Nielssent, O; Moore, J

Sorting It Out: A Community Mediation Training Program at a Therapeutic Prison

McWilliam, NJ

Nielssent, O Moore, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: The Sydney Law Review, 2015, 37 (1), pp. 69 - 88
Issue Date:: 2015-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	McWilliam, NJ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-2349	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Nielssent, O	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Moore, J	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-03-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	The Sydney Law Review, 2015, 37 (1), pp. 69 - 88	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0082-0512	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117944
dc.description.abstract	A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility and effect of a community mediation program (‘Sorting It Out’) in a therapeutic prison (the Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional Centre, or CDTCC). The program is unique as both staff and inmates were trained together. Also, in contrast to traditional dispute resolution, which is invoked after conflict has progressed, the program, which is based on therapeutic jurisprudence principles, trains participants in mediation to constructively address issues at the point of identification, prior to escalation. Measured outcomes included pre- and post-program questionnaires incorporating a social climate scale (EssenCES©), qualitative interviews and researcher observations. The participation rate was high, with all participants recommending the program. The outcomes included an enduring improvement in social climate and improvement in the CDTCC operation. Staff reported increased feelings of safety and support, and inmates reported increased understanding of staff and their roles. A large majority reported benefits to themselves and the community, including adoption of attitudes and behaviours learned in the program, improvement in staff–inmate interaction and a positive effect on staff work.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	The Sydney Law Review	en_US
dc.title	Sorting It Out: A Community Mediation Training Program at a Therapeutic Prison	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	37	en_US
utslib.for	1801 Law	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Law
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.consider-herdc	true	en_US
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	37	en_US

Abstract:

A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility and effect of a community mediation program (‘Sorting It Out’) in a therapeutic prison (the Compulsory Drug Treatment Correctional Centre, or CDTCC). The program is unique as both staff and inmates were trained together. Also, in contrast to traditional dispute resolution, which is invoked after conflict has progressed, the program, which is based on therapeutic jurisprudence principles, trains participants in mediation to constructively address issues at the point of identification, prior to escalation. Measured outcomes included pre- and post-program questionnaires incorporating a social climate scale (EssenCES©), qualitative interviews and researcher observations. The participation rate was high, with all participants recommending the program. The outcomes included an enduring improvement in social climate and improvement in the CDTCC operation. Staff reported increased feelings of safety and support, and inmates reported increased understanding of staff and their roles. A large majority reported benefits to themselves and the community, including adoption of attitudes and behaviours learned in the program, improvement in staff–inmate interaction and a positive effect on staff work.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117944