NCJ Number
75162
Date Published
1980
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Activities of the Neighborhood Mediation Center of Portland, Oreg., from June 30, 1979, through July 1, 1980, are highlighted in this annual report.
Abstract
During the second year of operation surveyed, an acceleration in intake of mediation cases occurred despite a reduction in staff. In the 12-month reporting period, 737 cases were referred to the center. Of these cases, 95 percent were accepted at telephone intake for a field staff interview, and only 5 percent were declined. The low declinational rate would suggest that more appropriate referrals are being made and that the community is on target as to the purpose of the center. The successful resolution rate was 78 percent; complaints against juveniles were resolved in 83 percent of the cases. The mediation services processed an average of 81 complaints per month, compared to a rate of 62 per month reported in the first 12-month period. The leading referral source was self-referral. Of the 1,690 disputants interviewed, 58 percent were complaints and 42 percent were respondents. Females, Caucasians, and persons employed full time were in the majority of all participants. A total of 48 percent of the respondents reported that they had lived at their residency for more than 5 years. Over 50 percent of the complainants reported similar conflicts with one another throughout the years, and 87 percent of those participants scheduled for panel hearings were heard within 2 weeks of original intake. Approximately 15 tables are included.