The Master in Mediator Expert in Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters (MERJ) provides expert theoretical and practical training to work as a professional, in compliance with Legislative Decree 150 of 10 October 2022, implementing Law 134 of 27 September 2021 (the so-called Cartabia Reform), which introduced the organic restorative justice discipline in criminal matters.
The course provides attendees with a multidisciplinary and experiential approach, according to the methods set forth in Ministerial Decrees of 9 June 2023 implementing the Reform, to gather knowledge, competences, theoretical and practical skills, and the ethical principles necessary to conduct restorative justice programs, in all related phases, with impartiality, independence, sensibility and diplomatic balance, in the interest of the victim and the person identified as the crime perpetrator.
The Master in Mediator Expert in Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters (MERJ) provides theoretical-practical knowledge to:
- Familiarize with the criminal system and the legal, criminological, sociological and psychological aspects related to restorative justice as an innovative crime-generated conflict management model in a complementary perspective between the two systems;
- Learn the principles, methods, techniques and restorative outcomes, and their possible incidence in criminal proceedings;
- Understand the phenomenology of crime and the dynamics resulting from it, in relation to different criminal contexts;
- Master the different restorative instruments and their possible uses.
Practical training, carried out by expert mediators, will help attendees develop their listening, dialogue and relational skills, functional to manage conflict and understand the parts’ specific needs.
The course lasts two years, and includes: 168 hours of first-level theoretical training (including 18 hours online); 320 hours of first-level hands-in training, and 200 hours of internship (in person). In general, the course will be held two days a week (Friday afternoon and Saturday the whole day) for three weekends a month.
The Master in Mediator Expert in Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters (MERJ) is addressed to newly graduates and professionals, working in the criminal justice sector (as lawyers, technical advisors, social workers, sociologists, educators, psychologists) who wish to undertake a career as Expert Criminal Mediator, pursuant to Legislative Decree 150/2022.
The Cartabia Reform (Legislative Decree 150/2022) governs the training content, methods and times to be qualified as Expert Mediator in Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters, in order to register to the Ministerial List of Expert Mediators.
The Master trains this new professional figure, specialized in the design, management and implementation of restorative justice interventions in criminal matters, within the public service (Restorative Justice Centres). An expert mediator becomes central in managing crime-generated conflict, by conducting consensual dialogues to promote the recognition of the crime victim, the accountability of the person indicated as the crime perpetrator, the reparation and reconstitution of a relationship with the community, complementarily with the criminal system.
The Master in Mediator Expert in Restorative Justice Programs in Criminal Matters (MERJ) provides a theoretical-practical training that meets the stringent ministerial requirements, establishing the topics, the training hours (theory, practice, internship) and the competences to acquire in detail.
Training, structured through lectures, workshops, practice sessions, seminars and final internship, is provided by university professors, expert mediators, and expert training mediators (registered in their own ministerial lists), with proven and solid experience in restorative justice for the criminal sector.
This innovative approach exploits specific interactive training instruments (guided debates, simulations, role-playing, testimonials, case analysis, team work, etc.) to help attendees consolidate the skills acquired through theoretical training, to promote the acquisition of a method focused on applying the knowledge and techniques learned correctly, in compliance with professional ethics.
THEORETICAL TRAINING
- The paradigm of restorative justice: birth, development, and Italian, European and international regulatory framework
- Principles, theories and methods of restorative justice in the criminal sector. From legal-philosophic fundamentals of restorative justice to the organic restorative justice discipline in the Cartabia Reform.
- Fundamentals of criminal law
- Fundamentals of juvenile law and criminal proceedings
- Fundamentals of criminal procedure law and the prison system
- Applicability of the restorative-mediatory paradigm, with reference to specific criminal phenomena, marked by high severity or vulnerable victims, such as international and transnational crimes, gender and domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, culturally-motivated crimes
- Criminology and victimology. Fundamentals of criminology. Analysis of the type of victims and their needs. Forms of victimization.
- Fundamentals or public law, with particular reference to anti-discriminatory law
- Principles and rules of professional ethics in expert mediators, with reference to the peculiar characteristics of this role and the functions attributed to it by the Cartabia Reform
- Sociology of cultural and intercultural processes
- Sociological theory on delinquency and conflict
- Social psychology applied to conflict, with a focus on legal and community aspects
PRACTICAL TRAINING
- Conflict management: from self-hood to other-hood
- Restorative justice techniques, instruments and programs
- Peculiarities of a restorative intervention concerning specific criminal phenomena
- Restorative program and crime phenomenology: skills and competences when managing and choosing the right path
- Expert mediators and team work
- Expert mediators and the relationship with the other restorative justice players
INTERNSHIP
The Cartabia Reform provides for a theoretical-practical training for Restorative Justice Expert Mediators in the criminal field, in the form of a University course, in partnership with Restorative Justice Centres, to be established in local institutions.
Restorative Justice Centres are currently being developed in several Regions, and they will be in charge of the practical and internship part. Once this process is concluded, the partnership – already formalized – with the Centro di Giustizia Riparativa e Mediazione of the Municipality of Padua – Ufficio Città Sane, managed by the Cooperativa La Ginestra scs. will finally be active.
Concerning, on the other hand, the attendees theoretical-practical training, the course will count on an existing network of restorative justice partners, already active in the regional territory, such as Associazione Koiné in Padua and Fondazione Don Calabria per il sociale ETS in Verona, and other third-sector and Justice sector entities.
In compliance with Legislative Decree 150/2022 and the related implementing decrees, the course is subject to an admission test and to a final exam.
The admission test will consist of submission of the resume and cover letter, followed by a public interview, to be undertaken in person, to assess the content of the documents submitted, the general knowledge and the specific applicant’s aptitude.
While the final exam will consist of a theoretical exam and a practical exam, divided as such:
- Theoretical exam: to be completed in person, and lasting 4 hours. Attendees will be required to draft a written text, answering a question concerning one of the topics covered during the first-level course, and followed by the discussion of the same.
- Practical exam: to be completed in person, and lasting at least 6 hours. Attendees will be required to simulate a restorative justice program, articulated in several sections and activities.
The general ranking of merit for the academic year 2025/26 will be published on the Italian page of this Master according to the timing provided in the Call.
Information
FAQ
This is one of the first University Master’s Courses in Italy for Restorative Justice Expert Mediators in the Criminal Field, compliant with the Cartabia Reform (Legislative Decree 150/2022 and subsequent implementing decrees).
The Master provides a structured theoretical and practical training, according to the strict provisions of the Cartabia Reform, instead of offering general, cross-cutting knowledge about the restorative model and controversies/dispute mediation in different fields (civil, commercial, family, school, etc.).
In compliance with the provisions on the matter, there are no specific degrees required to access the Master, and therefore it is open to newly-graduates and working professionals with different educational backgrounds.
In compliance with the relevant regulation, all attendees must attend at least 90% of the total Master hours (including lectures, practical training and internship).
Part of the lectures may be carried out remotely (up to 1/4 of the total hours, as provided for in the regulation).
First-level practical training and the internship shall be completed in person only.
In compliance with the relevant regulation, there will be a 200-hour internship, provided by the partner Restorative Justice Centre, through expert mediators. Specifically, the internship will consist in tutoring by expert mediators, while conducting different restorative justice programs (at least ten programs) and carrying out additional operative and organizational activities at the Centre.
Lectures will be held at the University of Padua.
Practical training and internship will be held at the Restorative Justice Centre partnered up with the Master.