A STUDY OF PUBLIC OPINION ON EFFECTIVENESS OF MEDIATION OF THE CHONBURI JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT

Abstract

This independent study was (1) to study the opinions of citizens toward the mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, (2) to compare the opinions of citizens toward the mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, and (3) to study problems, obstacles, and solutions to the mediation and conciliation of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court. The sampling size was determined by using Krejcie and Morgan's table for the proportion of the population assumed to be 0.5 with a tolerance level of 5 % and a reliability value of 95%. The samples were 181 people, and the research instrument was a questionnaire. The statistic used to analyze the data were percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and One-Way ANOVA.

The results of the research showed as follows. 1. The research found that most of the respondents were female. Most of them were between 31-40 years of age, owned a business, and earned more than 15,000-20,000 baht of monthly income. Moreover, most of the respondents had the status of the case as a plaintiff or a petitioner. 2. According to the opinions of citizens toward the mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, it was found that the overall mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court was at a very good level. When considering the income aspect, it was found that the efficiency in maintaining the reputation and confidentiality of the litigants held the highest average score. The other following aspects were the litigants’ satisfaction aspect, promptness aspect, and convenience aspect, respectively, as the service recipients of mediation clearly perceived the advantages and benefits. 3. When comparing the opinions of citizens toward the mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, it was found that in personal factors, different ages, occupations, incomes, and status of the cases received a significantly different level of opinions toward the mediation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court with the statistical level of 0.05. 4. According to the opinions toward problems, obstacles, and solutions to the mediation and conciliation of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, the respondents’ responses could be divided into issues as follows. (1) The legal or regulation factor causing problems and obstacles to the mediation procedure in the operating process, (2) the litigant factor and the plaintiff/defendant factor causing obstacles against reaching an agreement on conciliation negotiations, (3) the mediation procedure, communication including appointments, and coordination factor and (4) location and environment in mediation factor. 5. Based on guidelines of solutions to problems and obstacles related to the mediation and conciliation efficiency of Chonburi Juvenile and Family Court, the law should be revised to be clearer because if the law is clear, it will give the litigants the courage to attend the mediation and conciliation. In the aspect of the litigant, the related knowledge should be disseminated to litigants for them to be aware and understand the true mediation and conciliation procedure. In the aspect of appointments, the role of technology should be increased. Lastly, in the aspect of the location, more chairs should be added and waiting space should be wider to solve the location management problems.