Illgen, Cami

Title:
The Flagstaff Police Mediation Program: A Hypothetical Restorative Justice Program

Abstract:
As a part of my Restorative Justice Capstone project, I worked with a team to produce a hypothetical program that would incorporate restorative justice ideals into the existing criminal justice system. The Flagstaff Police Mediation Program (FPMP) is a hypothetical program that aims to teach Flagstaff police officers how to be mediators in order to better serve their community when responding to minor calls for service (such as noise complaints or non-violent crimes). Mediation is a process in which a victim and their offender can each voice their thoughts on the situation in the presence of a neutral party who serves to keep the conversation civil and flowing until a compromise can be reached and every individual feels heard. In the FPMP, the officers of the Flagstaff Police Department become trained mediators, which ultimately allows for minor situations to be de-escalated better than before and keep people out of the correctional system for small infractions. Although it is hypothetical, the FPMP suggests a brighter future for police departments who are willing to incorporate restorative justice techniques into their policies.

My project includes all necessary planning for this program, such as a budget plan, personnel and equipment requirements, and overall goals and objectives of the program.