What is Mediation?
With the fast-paced world in which we live, it is very likely that you may be involved in some type of dispute. Whether the dispute is at home, school, work or in your community, it can lead to great frustration. Often such disputes end up in court. In court, it is conceivable that the underlying problem may not be resolved and the parties will remain dissatisfied. Mediation provides a forum for individuals to talk out their problems with a neutral individual rather than drag them through the courts. Mediation empowers people to resolve their own problems in a constructive way and enables them to avoid conflict in the future.
The Mediation Center provides an alternative means of resolving:
- Telephone misuse
- Minor assaults
- Some family disputes
- Neighbor and community disputes
History of the Mediation Center
The Office of the State's Attorney for Anne Arundel County Mediation Program is one of the first of its kind.
The center was founded in 1984 on the premise of providing citizens with a means of resolving their conflicts in a consensual and confidential manner. With offices in Glen Burnie and Annapolis, the center can assist citizens in all parts of Anne Arundel County. Meetings are by appointment and special needs can be accommodated.
The Mediation Center may be just the approach you need to resolve your problem without the burden and costs of going to court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Minor types of criminal charges such as trespass, telephone misuse, malicious destruction of property, certain types of assault, before trial and; intra-family disputes in which present or former spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, siblings, parents or extended family members are caught up in domestic difficulties and incidents arising out of a multitude of neighbor disputes prior to criminal charges being filed.
At a reserved time, the mediator listens to both parties tell their side of what happened in an effort to understand how the dispute came about and to learn how each party would like to see the problem resolved. Referrals may be made to agencies in Anne Arundel County to assist the parties in building skills that may be lacking (parenting, budgeting, etc.) or to experts in the field of individual or family counseling. The mediator does not decide who is right or wrong. He or she merely assists the parties in coming to an acceptable solution.
Parties may bring their lawyer if they've retained one. The sessions are informal and may last an hour or two depending on the issues involved.
Once the mediation is complete, the mediator will let the Assistant State's Attorney know that the parties were able to reach a resolution and then the Assistant State's Attorney will make a recommendation for a disposition of the case. All mediation results are subject to review by the Office of the State's Attorney.
This service is provided by the Office of the State's Attorney. There is no cost to you.