This essay reports on a lengthy intervention by an outside mediator at a maximum security reformatory who mitigated racial violence, heightened racial understanding, contributed to better management practices and led to the development of conflict prevention and conflict management structures. The administration and staff concurred in mediation ground rules that enabled them to engage in extensive joint problem solving negotiations with inmates. The communications techniques that (1) created a listening environment, (2) humanized the conflict and (3) led to collaborative problem solving in this case can be used to manage conflicts in corrections settings elsewhere.

Source: Vanspauwen, K., Robert, L., Aertsen, I., Parmentier, S. (2003), Restorative Justice and Restorative Detention. A selected and annotated bibliography. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculteit Rechtsgeleerdheid, Onderzoeksgroep Penologie en Victimologie.