”Medlaren skall vara opartisk.” - En kvalitativ intervjustudie om brottsmedlarens opartiska roll

Abstract

Purpose and research questions The purpose of this study is to examine how mediators in victim-offender mediation interprets their own impartial role and see if they think that it presents any challenges. If so, I want to know how they handle these challenges and how they reinforce their impartial role. The study will hopefully shed light on any difficulties with being an "impartial mediator" and present strategies on how to address such difficulties. Data and methods The study was conducted using a qualitative method. Interviews were held with five mediators based on a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were each about an hour long and everything was recorded. Selected parts of the material was then transcribed and coded. Main results The mediators all interpret their impartial role in their own personal ways. Several of them also equate or are confused by the concepts of being "impartial" and "neutral". The mediators say that there are a lot of difficulties and paradoxes that the impartial role presents. The mediators also considered self-awareness to be a most decisive factor when it comes to being impartial. Based on the interviews, the mediators seem to reinforce their impartial role through five main strategies; self-awareness, transparency, the belief in the restorative philosophy, understanding of the mediation process and help through tutoring.