A Realistic View of Mediation in Penal Matters - the Reasons for the Failure and Remedial Measures

The article undertakes research on the low interest for victim-offender medi-ation in the practice of Polish justice. It presents the results of the research for reasons both in imperfect legal solutions and in attitudes of lawyers and parties. The authors, being mediators in penal matters and at the same time involved in scientific research in criminal law and criminology, conducted a series of in-depth interviews with practitioners: prosecutors, judges, an advocate and mediator with psychological education. The article presents several postulates for the legislator, which may be valuable also outside the Polish legal system, as well as to mediators, judges and prosecutors, especially those operating in the area of continental criminal law. Artykuł podejmuje tematykę niskiego zainteresowana mediacją w sprawach karnych w praktyce polskiego wymiaru sprawiedliwości. Prezentuje badania nad przyczynami tego stanu rzeczy, tkwiącymi zarówno w niedoskonałych rozwiązaniach prawnych, jak i w postawach prawników i stron postępowania. Autorki, będąc mediatorkami w sprawach karnych, a równocześnie nau-kowo zajmując się prawem karnym i kryminologią, przeprowadziły serię pogłębionych wywiadów z praktykami: prokuratorami, sędziami, adwokatem i mediatorem z wykształceniem psychologicznym. W artykule sformułowano kilka postulatów dla ustawodawcy, które mogą okazać się cenne również poza polskim systemem prawnym, również dla mediatorów, sędziów i prokuratorów, zwłaszcza tych działających w obszarze kontynentalnego prawa karnego.

The article undertakes research on the low interest for victim-offender mediation in the practice of Polish justice. It presents the results of the research for reasons both in imperfect legal solutions and in attitudes of lawyers and parties. The authors, being mediators in penal matters and at the same time involved in scientific research in criminal law and criminology, conducted a series of in-depth interviews with practitioners: prosecutors, judges, an advocate and mediator with psychological education. The article presents several postulates for the legislator, which may be valuable also outside the Polish legal system, as well as to mediators, judges and prosecutors, especially those operating in the area of continental criminal law.