GO 300-33 Mediation Flashcards
Ineligible Issue
An issue is ineligible for any alternative dispute resolution process, including mediation, if it can be substantively described as a Class I policy violation or if it is so egregious that it threatens the integrity of the Houston Police Department (e.g., child abuse or neglect).
Employees may request mediation themselves by directly contacting the ______________.
Alternative Dispute `Resolution (ADR) Unit
Issues received first by the ___________shall be screened to determine if they may be eligible for mediation. If the issue is possibly eligible for mediation, CIO shall refer it to ADR’s Mediation Section.
Central Intake Office (CIO)
ADR shall review issues referred to the Mediation Section to ensure that they are mediation
eligible. Issues ineligible for mediation may be:
a. Returned to CIO.
b. Referred to another section of ADR.
c. Closed in ADR as indicated in section 11, Unresolved Issues, of this General Order.
Issues eligible for resolution through mediation shall be processed and completed within ___
calendar days from the date the issue was received in the Mediation Section.
60
Reception of issues in the Mediation Section that are eligible for resolution through other
department processes (e.g., grievance, Internal Affairs, Employee Representative Council)
causes the applicable issue processing time requirements to be suspended up to, but no more
than, ____calendar days.
60
The __-hour notice requirement is waived for all issues referred to the mediation procedure due
to its nonpunitive nature. E
48
A party shall not have a _________ present during a mediation interview or session. A party
may consult with a representative prior to or after a mediation interview or session.
representative
The rules listed below apply to every aspect of the department’s mediation procedure.
a. In cases with multiple parties in the mediation, each party shall speak one at a time and
only for himself or herself.
b. The mediation procedure is confidential and all applicable laws and policies governing
confidentiality bind all participants. The confidentiality rules apply to all aspects of the
mediation procedure including intake, interview, mediation session, caucus, and case
processing by ADR personnel.
c. All persons participating in a mediation session are prohibited from bringing a weapon of
any type to the mediation session. This applies even to employees in uniform. There are no
exceptions to this rule.
d. Lock boxes shall be available in ADR to safely secure weapons. At all other facilities where
mediation sessions are to be held, ADR personnel shall identify secure locations for
weapon storage.
e. Each participant in the mediation session shall contact ADR to confirm his or her
attendance at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled mediation.
f. Violations of any mediation procedure law, department policy, or mediation agreement,
including confidentiality, during or after any mediation proceeding, shall be grounds for
disciplinary action.
g. If any participant fails or refuses to follow any mediation rule, procedure, or policy to the
extent the mediator is unable to control the mediation, the mediation shall be stopped.
The mediation procedure is _____. All interviews, mediation sessions, and documents
created during the procedure are confidential according to applicable laws and department
policies.
confidential
Qualifications and standards for mediators shall be determined by ____. All mediators,
regardless of their assignment, shall adhere to these qualifications and standards.
ADR
A situation in which parties in a mediation process are unable to reach an agreement is called
an ____. The rules of confidentiality also apply to cases ending in impasse.
impasse
When handling unresolved issues, ADR may do any of the following:
a. Return them to CIO.
b. Refer them to another section of ADR.
c. Refer them to the assistant chief over ADR for ADR closure as indicated below.
The assistant chief over ADR may close an unresolved mediation issue if one of the following
situations applies:
a. Mediation is the only appropriate process to resolve the issue and the parties have reached
an impasse or a party refuses to participate in the mediation procedure.
b. Mediation is the appropriate first step in the department’s issue resolution process and a
party refuses to participate in the mediation procedure.
The mediation procedure is not ____and participants shall not be penalized or disciplined
for participating
punitive
