NCJ Number
140035
Date Published
1992
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This report describes the activities and highlights of the New York State Community Dispute Resolution Centers Program during the 2-year period between April 1990 and March 1992.
Abstract
The Community Dispute Resolution Centers Program is a unit of the New York State Unified Court System that contracts with nonprofit agencies to provide dispute resolution services in each county. The program aims to serve as a forum for dispute resolution, to prevent the escalation of disputes into more serious criminal or civil cases, to relieve the courts of cases that do not require formal proceedings, and to teach individuals to solve their problems through mediation and cooperation. In 1991-1992, the centers served over 105,000 people involved in nearly 46,000 cases. In addition to conciliations, mediations, and arbitrations, the centers provided indirect services in the form of assistance and referrals to other resources. A voluntary agreement was reached in 85 percent of the cases in the mediation stage; over $2.5 million was awarded in restitution and mutual agreements. The most frequent allegations involved in these cases included harassment, assault, breach of contract, and housing, interpersonal, and property disputes. This report presents caseload statistics by judicial district for 1990-1991 and 1991-1992. 12 tables and 1 appendix