NCJ Number
61884
Journal
Judicature Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 174-183
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE DADE COUNTY, FLA., CITIZEN DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM HAS SUCCEEDED IN DIVERTING HALF OF THE FAMILY DISPUTES FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF CLIENT SATISFACTION.
Abstract
THE DADE COUNTY CITIZEN DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM (CDS) WAS CREATED IN 1975 AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORMAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTERS ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES FOR DISPUTE MEDIATION. A STUDY OF CDS AFTER 2 YEARS OF OPERATION REVEALED THAT MORE THAN 6,300 CASES HAD BEEN PROCESSED THROUGH INTAKE, WITH ONLY 2 PERCENT REQUIRING REFERRAL TO THE STATE ATTORNEY FOR PROSECUTION. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE CASES USING CDS SERVICES WOULD NOT HAVE APPEARED IN THE FORMAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM. SUCH MATTERS AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD SUPPORT ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 46 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CASELOAD. NEVERTHELESS, THE EXPENDITURE OF TIME ON MATTERS WHICH MAY NOT HAVE OTHERWISE REACHED THE COURTS MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN THE PREVENTION OF ESCALATED VIOLENCE AND THE REDUCTION OF POLICE INTERVENTION IN DOMESTIC MATTERS. MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT BUT FOR MEDIATION, THEY WOULD HAVE SOUGHT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE SUCCESS OF THE CDS IS DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY, BUT OVERALL, CLIENTS WERE SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME OF THEIR HEARINGS, AND MOST OF THE MEDIATION AGREEMENTS WERE MAINTAINED. THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON CIVIL COURTS WAS UNMEASURED. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.