NCJ Number
96275
Journal
Mediation Quarterly Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 77-86
Date Published
1984
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Community Dispute Settlement Program (CDSP) of Delaware County, Pa., is described.
Abstract
Community mediation is considered appropriate for any dispute between people involved in an ongoing relationship, who must thus find some way to coexist. CDSP workers start with three assumptions: all disputing parties have a legitimate problem, all have the inner resources to find a solution, and all will feel they have a stake in making the solution work if they have been actively involved in its creation. The six-stage CDSP mediation process consists of the mediator's opening statement, uninterrupted time for each disputant to express his/her views, exchange, building the agreement, writing and signing the agreement, and the mediator's closing statement. Trained volunteers, consisting of about 30 men and women, do all the mediations, much of the outreach, and some of the fundraising. Donations of between $10 and $25 are requested at each mediation, although CDSP is committed to providing service regardless of the client's ability to pay. Most of the cases involve neighbor and family conflicts. CDSP has also worked with landlord-tenant problems, but few landlords have been problems, but few landlords have been willing to come to mediation. The development of the program is described, and future directions are explored. CDSP's plans to build a link with the business community are also considered.