About Mediation & Diversion Services
Mediation is a confidential process in which a neutral and impartial third party helps people in conflict communicate, understand each other’s perspectives, and work toward a mutually acceptable agreement. The mediator does not take sides, provide legal advice, or make decisions. Rather, the mediator guides the discussion to explore problem solving and the potential resolution of the conflict.
The Office of Mediation & Diversion Services facilitates both Court Ordered and non-Court Ordered Mediations. Parties involved in Small Claims, County Civil, Circuit Civil, Family Law and Dependency cases may be Court Ordered to mediation. There are situations in which parties involved with a Family law case may agree to mediate without a Court Order. Our office also facilitates Community Mediations, which is an effort to resolve a dispute without the filing of a lawsuit. Please click on the links to your left to explore these subjects in greater detail.
Community Mediation
Established as the Citizen Dispute Settlement Program in 1978, staff mediated civil complaints such as municipal ordinance violations, consumer complaints, and neighborhood disputes. The services were offered to the public as an alternative to the formal judicial process and to assist the court in reducing the caseload.
Dependency Mediation
The Thirteenth Judicial Circuit's Dependency Mediation Program began in November of 1994 with an Innovative Program Award grant provided by the Dispute Resolution Center. The funding was used for mediator training and fees.
Family Mediation
In 1984, the Family Mediation Program was added to the already established Citizen Dispute Settlement Program in 1978. The Family Mediation program was created to address post-judgment custody and visitation disputes (AO 1984-57). Two years later in 1986 the Office of Family Court Services under the supervision of the Court Administrator was established to handle Family Mediation and assistance with child support related matters (AO 1986-51). Later that year, it was approved where the mediation of child support and alimony issues would occur prior to being brought to court in post-judgment cases (AO 1986-97). In 1987, Mediation & Diversion Services was established to provide for the mediation of certain civil disputes (AO 1987-11). Becoming more and more apart of procedure, in 1989, any contested family law matter could be ordered to mediation by the court on its own motion or the motion of a party. Also AO 1989-28, required that parties seeking to schedule a trial for post-judgment action for modification of child support, alimony, parental responsibility or visitation to first participate in mediation within 30 days. Further expanding, in 1990 pre-judgment and post-judgment issues could be referred to mediation by court order, and pre-judgment mediations could also be scheduled by voluntary requests as authorized by AO 1990-159.
Circuit Civil, County Civil and Small Claims
The Criminal Mediation program was created in 1985 for adult misdemeanor violators. Then in 1988, the 13th Judicial Circuit was part of a pilot project that established Circuit Civil Mediation as a viable means of resolving cases. Also, that year the County Civil Diversion Program (small claims less than $2500 and County Civil between $2500 and $10,000) was established by AO 1988-44. The Small claims jurisdiction was raised to $5000 in 1997 by the Supreme Court.