Week 3- Oct. 10th

For today's work, I began learning how the phone system works. At times I will be the only person there to answer calls and it is necessary to have a good grasp of how to take messages appropriately. Many people receive calls and organization is important. I made a couple calls to mediators inquiring about case updates. I am enjoying the communication aspect of this position. I am required to stay in contact with many individuals to ensure things are on schedule. For a majority of my time at CMS I was taking old files and calling the victims and offenders to ask them if they were willing to participate in a brief survey on their experience in their mediation- how the process was for them. I think I only spoke with about 7 out of 20 cases, but I was able to get an array of responses. The responses ranged from being highly positive about the mediation process to be extremely disappointed with the process. Both of the parents in those examples had extremely different views based on the situation of their child. One response from a father who had been present at the mediation with his son made me feel very warm-hearted. The father explained how happy he was to see his son take accountability in his actions and look his victim in the eye and come up with his own ideas for reparations. It is amazing to see the benefits that come out of this process, not just with the juvenile offender, but the victims and the parents.