Defining ‘Success’ in the Neighbourhood Justice Movement

Source: (1982) in R. Tomasic and M.M. Feeley (eds.), Neighbourhood Justice: Assessment of an Emerging Idea. New York: Longman, pp. 172-192.

This paper provides (1) an examination of the prototype of mediation and the social settings in which it occurs naturally, (2) an analysis of the impact of the social context and the surrounding social structure on the way mediation functions, and (3) broader definitions of effectiveness and success which describe more fully what neighborhood justice centers can provide in the American context. An analysis of these prototypes suggests the need to transplant community mediation into American society with more sophistication and greater awareness of the impact of the surrounding social structure. Evaluation measures thus far have focused primarily on judicial goals while ignoring such benefits as access to justice and the facilitation of community development.