Victim-offender mediation and social work: Focus groups with mediators in Flanders

Abstract

The role of social work in the restorative justice field remains largely unexplored. This article reports on the findings of focus groups conducted with mediators of juvenile and adult mediation practices in Flanders (Belgium) to gain more insight into how mediators perceive their professional role and to what extent they refer to individual and structural dimensions of social work practice. Implications for future social work involvement and research are made.

Participatory handling of conflicts in Sámi areas

“…It aims to involve people in democratic processes for welfare and local safety building (Elliott, 2011;Lederach, 1995Lederach, , 2005Moore and McDonald, 2002). This restorative practice approach is spreading into CSOs and private enterprises as means to encourage dialogue across different knowledge fields and practices and as a tool for consciousness-raising in managing conflict, both civil and criminal (Bradt et al, 2014;Wong and Wing Lo, 2011). The second methodological approach concerns social learning systems and communities of practice (Dysthe, 2001;Lave and Wenger, 1991;Wenger, 1998Wenger, , 2000.…”