Certification of Mediation Training Programs

(a) Certified training programs for mediators who are seeking certification as district criminal court mediators shall consist of a minimum of twenty-four hours of instruction. The curriculum of such programs shall include the following topics: (1) Conflict resolution and mediation theory. (2) Mediation process and techniques, including the process and techniques of mediating criminal matters in district court. (3) (4) (5) (6) Agreement writing. Communication and information gathering. Standards of conduct for mediators including, but not limited to, the Standards of Professional Conduct for Mediators. Statutes, rules, forms, and practices governing mediations for criminal matters in district court. (7) Demonstrations of mediations for criminal matters in district court. (8) Simulations of mediations for criminal matters in district court, involving student participation as the mediator, victim, offender, and attorneys, which shall be supervised, observed, and evaluated by program faculty. (9) Courtroom protocol. (10) Domestic violence awareness. (11) Satisfactory completion of an exam by all students, testing their familiarity with the statutes, rules, and practices governing mediations for criminal matters in district court. (b) A training program must be certified by the Commission before a mediator’s attendance at the program may be used to satisfy the training requirement under this rule. Training programs attended prior to the promulgation of these rules or attended in other states may be approved by the Commission if they are in substantial compliance with the standards set forth in this rule. (c) Certification renewal shall be required every two years. History Note. 373 N.C. 757. 16 TOC Rule 9