Mediation
Mediation offers participants the opportunity to discuss their disputes fully in a less formal setting than a Court. Mediation often results in a more satisfying solution for all parties. The State Attorney's Office offers professionally trained mediators who meet with parties, talk through their concerns, and help them reach mutually acceptable solutions. There is no charge for this service and the mediator does not decide who is right or wrong, they merely assist the parties in coming to an acceptable solution.
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Solving Problems Through Mediation
Mediation gives people involved in a dispute the opportunity to get together with a trained neutral individual to seek lasting solutions to their problems in a collaborative process. The Mediation Service provides the citizens of Montgomery County with an alternative means of resolving:
- Criminal charges such as trespass, telephone abuse, malicious destruction of property, assault, and the like before trial.
- Non-physical disputes in which present or former spouses, boy/girlfriends, siblings, parents, or extended family members are caught up in family turmoil which have resulted in criminal activity.
- Incidents arising out of a multitude of neighbor vs. Neighbor disagreements or community disputes.
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What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral mediator helps people find a win-win solution to their conflict. Mediation lets people speak for themselves and make their own choices.
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What Happens In a Mediation Session?
Mediation offers participants an opportunity to share their perspective and concerns regarding the disputes. The mediator listens to all the parties to understand how each party would like to see the problem resolved. The process encourages communication between the parties, within boundaries, facilitated by the mediators.
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Where Will Mediation Take Place?
Mediations are held at the State's Attorney's Office on the fifth floor of the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville, MD.
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Then What Happens?
When the parties reach an agreement, it is put into written form by the mediator. The parties sign the agreement, and each party receives a copy. The court is notified that the case has been successfully mediated.
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Does Mediation Work?
Not every dispute is suitable for mediation but of those cases that do go through the process, approximately 85% result in agreements. Most of the participants later report that both sides are living up to the agreement.
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Why Mediate?
Mediation allows you to control the outcome- no one tell you what to do. Participants develop long-lasting solutions to meet everyone's needs.