NCJ Number
158500
Date Published
1995
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the activities from April 1994 through March 1995 of New York's Community Dispute Resolution Centers Program, an alternative to formal court proceedings in each of the 62 New York counties.
Abstract
Established in 1981, the program has served 1,105,298 people. The 658,461 cases screened as appropriate for alternative dispute resolution have resulted in 224,777 conciliations, mediations, and arbitrations. In fiscal year 1994-95, the centers reported awards of more than $3 million in restitution and mutual agreements; the average per case was $808. Fifteen percent of the 44,078 cases in fiscal year 1994-95 were between neighbors, 14 percent were between acquaintances, 14 percent were between landlords and tenants, 9 percent were between consumers and merchants, 8 percent were between individuals and corporations, 5 percent were between immediate or extended family members, 4 percent involved people formerly involved in romantic relationships, and 4 percent involved strangers. Forty percent of the conflicts involved criminal matters, 56 percent were civil matters, and 4 percent were juvenile problems. The centers also provided indirect services in the form of assistance, referral to appropriate resources, and other information each day. Tables, figures, and addresses of centers