Dispute Settlement Services for Residents
By Justin Lyons, CRC Member
In these moments of uncertainty and concern around the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s an opportune time to learn about resources that residents have at their disposal from the City’s Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Department.
For nearly 40 years, the Dispute Settlement Program (DSP) has provided mediation services for residents who want to resolve conflict without going to court. The benefit of mediation is it can be a quicker and more thorough way to reach a resolution without the expense and formality of court. The DSP mediates cases in a courtroom around concerns such as:
- Misdemeanor court cases (property damage, trespassing, simple assaults, etc.)
- Landlord/tenant disputes
- Disputes between neighbors, co-workers, family members, friends, etc.
- Medicaid appeals
- No contact orders
- Not mediated: Cases of domestic violence, child custody, divorce and felony charges
How does it work? Once the Community Relations staff receives a case, the team will invite the parties into mediation with a third-party, a trained mediator who will facilitate the discussion and guide the parties through the process. The mediator’s work usually involves hearing both sides of the story, getting clear on expectations, building a bridge to brainstorm potential solutions, and working to come to mutually agreeable solutions. If agreements are reached by the parties, the mediator will write up the terms and provide a copy to each party at the end of the session.
If you’d like to learn more, read here about how to initiate this process if you’d like to utilize this critical service. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, mediation sessions aren’t being held in-person, but can be hosted via phone. The Community Relations Department also offers free training for residents who want to learn basic mediation and conflict resolution skills. If you would like to participate, submit your interest here.
