Bullying is a problem. Going to court isn’t usually the best answer | WBUR Cognoscenti
When a family walks into a courthouse to file a harassment order against a child for bullying their kid, they are usually not looking for a battle. They are looking for one to stop.
They want an end to the harassing texts. The name-calling. The rumor-spreading. The family wants peace. They want the other family to understand what has been happening. They want to feel heard.
What they get, too often, is a system that can’t deliver all of that…
But there is another option. Mediation can successfully avoid all of that. After a family files a harassment prevention order complaint, a judge reviews the case and has an initial hearing with that family. If the judge finds the evidence strong enough, they may issue a temporary harassment order. The judge will then ask both parties to come in for a hearing to determine whether to issue an extended order.