Mediation Process

You and the officer meet with a trained, independent mediator in a private office or conference room at the CCRB. The mediation session cannot be recorded or videoed.

• Step One - Confidentiality: The mediator will ask you and the officer to sign a confidentiality and consent agreement. By signing, you and the officer agree that what is said in the mediation will be kept confidential. The mediator also signs this agreement

• Step Two - Ground Rules: After the agreement has been signed, the mediator explains the process and the ground rules for you and the officer to follow during the mediation session. The ground rules create the foundation for a discussion that usually leads to satisfaction.

• Step Three - It's Time to Talk: The mediator will ask you and the officer to take turns describing what happened. The mediator is not a judge and will not be deciding who's right and who's wrong. The mediator will assist you and the officer in talking and listening to each other, and will ask questions when necessary. You are free to speak your mind, free to tell the officer what you thought was wrong or hurtful about his or her behavior, and free to express how you felt about that behavior. The mediator will ask the officer to respond to your comments and to try to explain his or her point of view about the incident and his or her actions.

• Step Four - The End: At some point, usually after about an hour, if you and the officer feel that you have come to an understanding about the issues between you, the mediator will end the session and ask you both to sign a resolution agreement. At that point the mediation is finished and considered successful and the CCRB closes the complaint.