Perception of Civil Society on Mediation in Criminal Matters

Problem Statement: This paper examines whether new changes in the Romanian mediation law can affect the criminal liability of persons charged with committing certain crimes.Purpose of Study: The purpose of this study is to analyse the new regulations regarding the mediation between victims and offenders, considering the mandatory mediation informative meeting.MethodsIn order to achieve the goal of the study, I will analyse the new framework considering experts, such as lawyers and judges, the stakeholders’ interpretation and reactions caused by the occurrence of these changes.Findings andResultsCriminal mediation is possible in certain situations, but not mandatory, taking into accountthat the new legislative changes are only to decrease the number of cases lacking legal support registered in the courts of law.The victim is neither forced to sign an agreement with the offender, nor to have a new confrontation with their offenders during the mediation informative meetings, especially if the high level of emotional involvement is considered.As human nature often makes citizens to oppose resistance to changes, the media has an important role as an opinion trendsetter.Conclusions and Recommendations: For a better understanding of the new situation arising, it is recommended that the legislator express more clearly the purpose of the law they draft, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Equally, the recipients of the law should not rush in criticising, not before having determined the real aspects of the situation based on reliable and valid sources.