If a Crime is Admitted during Caucus, What Then?

“If a person during a caucus session tells the mediator that he committed a crime which had nothing to do with the case in mediation and someone else is going to be wrongfully punished for that crime does the mediator “A”: say something to the appropriate authorities or “B”: let the innocent person go to jail?

Summary

“Unless a crime disclosed to the mediator in caucus falls under one of the exceptions to confidentiality for mediation communications pursuant to Florida Statutes 44.405  the mediator should not report it. If a mediator decides, during the course of the mediation, that the mediator will make such a report, the mediator must withdraw from the mediation.”

Opinion

“When deciding whether to report a past crime revealed during caucus, the mediator must ask him/herself several questions. First, is the statement a mediation communication? Second, as a mediation communication, does the statement qualify as one of the exceptions to mediation confidentiality … If the communication requires a mandatory report pursuant to  Florida Statutes 39.201; (child abuse, abandonment, or neglect) or Chapter 415, the mediator has an ethical obligation to report it.

If the communication does not fall under the mandatory reporting exceptions, then the mediator must ask if it falls under any of the other exceptions to confidentiality. If the communication does fit within the definition of an exception, the mediator has the discretion to report.”

Exception for mediation communications related to crimes:

It states the communication must indicate the act was  ‘willfully used to plan a crime, commit or attempt to commit a crime, conceal ongoing criminal activity, or threaten violence.’

Note that “the mediator’s obligation to explain confidentiality in the opening statement requires the parties be informed that communications made during the process are confidential, except where disclosure is required or permitted by law.”

(This is an excerpt from The Florida Supreme Court Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee. Opinion Number: 2013-003, Date of Issue: November 1, 2013.) Meac Opinion

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