Criminal law is characterized by norms and values affirmed by society.
Since mediation focuses on individuals and the settling of personal conflict, it fails to symbolically express the violation of societal norms and values. Therefore, it fails to clarify societal norms and values. Bussman further questions whether individual parties to mediation can act on their own behalf and as representatives of the community. To the extent that they do not, communally-held norms and values will be absent from those processes. The value of the process is in mutual conflict-resolution.