Assignment of cases:
The Independent Police Review Division shall select cases for potential
mediation. Once cases have been selected, IPR will seek the approval of the
complainant, the police officer, and the Portland Police Bureau. Should all of
these parties approve mediation, the IPR Community Relations Coordinator shall
select a mediator and contact them to determine if they are available to take
the case. Mediators may also request or be requested to co-mediate with other
mediators who have also been approved by IPR. If the mediator(s) is available,
IPR will forward the case report to the mediator(s) for review.
IPR shall make reasonable efforts to distribute cases fairly between contracted mediators, but shall be guided by the overriding priorities of timely and effective handling of cases. Relevant factors include the ability and expertise of the mediators, and the needs and diversity of the clients.
The mediator is not obligated to accept a case, nor shall they be penalized
for declining a case, but they shall notify the IPR Community Relations
Coordinator or Director in a timely fashion (within 5 working days) if they
believe, having reviewed the case, that it is not suitable for mediation, or
that it would be better assigned to another mediator.
Timeliness:
Because the ultimate success of mediation efforts may be partly dependent
on the timeliness with which mediations are carried out, mediators shall make
reasonable efforts to conduct mediations within 2 weeks of accepting a case. The
target goal is to mediate within 30 days of selecting a case for mediation, and
not to exceed 60 days.
After the case has been accepted:
If the mediator accepts the case, the mediator will be responsible for arranging for a time and place for the mediation. The mediator may meet with both parties, either together, separately or both, and review the incident in an informal and non-confrontational setting, either at the IPR office, or an alternative location mutually agreeable to the mediator(s), complainant and police officer.
The objectives of the mediation shall include resolution of the conflict in
a fair and respectful manner, allowing the parties to better understand each
other’s perspective on the incident, affording an opportunity to improve
relationships between the complainant (and the larger community) and the officer
(and the Portland Police Bureau) and to reduce the risk of future
conflicts.
Ethical requirements:
Mediators are expected to adhere to standards of ethical practice that are embodied in the Oregon Mediation Association’s "standards of mediation practice," excerpted below.
- Self Determination: Mediators shall respect and encourage the self-determination of participants in decisions regarding what process to use and regarding whether, and on what terms, to resolve their dispute.
- Informed Consent: The mediator shall provide mediation services only with the informed consent of participants to participate in the specific mediation process offered by the mediator. The mediator shall explain the mediation process, the roles of the participants, and confidentiality. The mediator must also inform the participants of the need to be realistic in protecting themselves against possible abuse of the mediation process.
- Impartial Regard: The mediator shall demonstrate and maintain a commitment to impartial regard by serving all participants at all times. A mediator shall withdraw from the mediation process if there are conflicts of interest or prior or present relationships with participants that may appear to compromise their impartiality, or continue only with the informed consent of all parties.
- Confidentiality: A mediator shall maintain the reasonable expectations of the participants with regard to confidentiality, and in a manner consistent with confidentiality laws for the State of Oregon, as specified in the "Agreement to Mediate" signed by the participants prior to mediating.
- Competence: A mediator shall exercise his/her judgment and discretion as to whether s/he is competent to mediate a particular dispute, including in such judgment factors such as style of mediation, subject matter or the dispute, issues and participants involved. The mediator shall request appropriate assistance, withdraw or decline to serve if the necessary knowledge, skills and ability to mediate a particular dispute are lacking. IPR may arrange additional training for mediators relevant to citizen/police mediation.
- Encourage Good Faith Participation: The mediator shall encourage participants to participate in good faith, lay ground rules for acceptable, respectful conduct, and to terminate any mediation in which one or both of the parties refuse to adhere to those rules or the fairness and integrity of mediation cannot be maintained. Neither party shall be permitted to use a mediation session as an opportunity to demean, insult or intimidate the other party.
- Fees: The mediator shall not solicit or accept payment from participants additional to the fee paid by the Independent Police Review Division for a given mediation.
- Dual-Role Limitations: The mediator shall not engage in any non-mediative, advocacy role during mediation.
Reporting:
The IPR will make every effort to minimize the reporting required of
mediators. However, the Independent Police Review is obligated to obtain
information regarding mediation sessions necessary for quality monitoring
purposes and to meet IPR’s own reporting and research requirements. Accordingly,
outcome surveys will be given to all mediation session participants, including
the mediators at the conclusion of the mediation. Participation in the survey is
voluntary for the mediating parties, but timely participation is required of
contracted mediators. Mediator survey forms will be distributed to mediators
when cases are assigned, and are to be submitted along with the invoices for
each mediation.
Monitoring:
The IPR Community Relations Coordinator, other IPR staff and a member of
the CRC (as designated by the IPR Director) may attend mediation sessions as an
observer, in adherence to the same conditions of confidentiality as all other
participants. The purpose of any such observation or recording would be solely
for quality monitoring and administrative purposes by the Independent Police
Review Division, and no privileged information would be made available to any
other parties for any reason.
