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Mediation is an opportunity to manage conflicts differently. Agreements
reached by the parties themselves are far more likely to be satisfying
and lasting solutions than those imposed upon the participants by
others.
Anyone in the Southern Maryland area (St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles
Counties), may request mediation support from SMCCMC. We try not
to turn anyone away.
Mediation is completely voluntary. No one will be forced to participate.
Center personnel will be available to talk with the other participant
and explain mediation in more detail, to make sure they understand
what mediation offers.
Center mediators assist individuals in neighbor conflicts, landlord-tenant
issues, group and organizational conflicts and family care decisions
for elderly adults. Mediators also provide alternative dispute resolution
service to individuals participating in St. Mary’s County
District Court cases. They assist in a wide range of legal actions,
including unpaid accounts, deposits and claims for damages. Family
law or cases involving criminal conduct are generally outside the
purview of the Center and are referred to other agencies.
Mediation brings people in conflict together in a comfortable and
safe setting. With the help of mediators, you can discuss issues
and talk about your concerns. They will help you talk to each other
to clarify goals, gather information, and identify options. It is
up to you to decide what will meet your needs as you manage the
conflict. What is discussed with the mediators is kept private and
confidential. In mediation, you - not the mediator - control the
decisions and the outcome.
Mediations are held at the Center's office in Leonardtown, Trinity
Church in Lexington Park, Patuxent Friends' meeting house in Lusby,
and other sites throughout St. Mary's and Southern Calvert and Charles
Counties.
Center personnel will attempt to schedule mediations at times convenient
to the parties involved. Day of trial mediation at the District
Courts are held in accordance with court schedules.
The Center's mediation services are free of charge.
Mediation sessions generally take less than two hours. That is
usually sufficient for parties to come to resolution or decide that
other forms of support are more appropriate. Follow-up sessions,
if required, may also be scheduled.
The Center's mediators are volunteers that represent many segments
of our Southern Maryland community. All are interested in helping
to build a better and more peaceful community and have received
formal training in the mediation process.
Volunteer mediators complete 40 hours of formal syllabus, followed
by continuing training, including supervised internship and ongoing
peer review support.
The mediators make every effort to be impartial. The mediation
process is based upon the concept that the mediator is not the judge
or jury of mediation. Their opinions do not shape the result of
mediation. In mediation, you - not the mediator - control the decisions
and the outcome.
If there is any potential conflict of interest, the mediator will
step aside and ask another to take his or her place.
While the mediators will assist participants, conduct of the actual
mediation is left largely up to the participants. It is up to you
to decide what will meet your needs as you manage the conflict.
Yes. What is discussed with the mediators is kept private and confidential.
Mediators may not be called into subsequent legal action to testify
on behalf of either party.
The center does not have resources to provide professional interpreter
services. Participants are welcome to bring friends, family members
or professional interpreters to assist them in communication.
Personal representatives or supporters are welcome in the mediation
process, as long as all parties agree. The parties must reach agreement
with regard to how other participants will be allowed to contribute
to the discussion.
Attorneys are welcome in the mediation process, as long as all
parties agree. The parties must reach agreement with regard to how
they will be allowed to contribute to the discussion.
Mediation remains voluntary at all times. Participants are free
to discontinue the process and leave at any point.
Mediators do not make decisions for the participants. They will
help you talk to each other to clarify goals, gather information,
and identify options. It is up to you to decide what will meet your
needs as you manage the conflict.
Mediations customarily result in a written agreement. The parties
may write the agreement up themselves or they may ask the mediator
to assist. Any written document will be read and discussed by all
parties to assure agreement before signature.
Written agreements are binding in the same sense that any contract
between individuals is binding.
Agreements reached in Day of Trial mediations will be brought before
the District Court judge for disposition of the court case. Agreements
reached in other mediation settings (neighbor conflicts, landlord-tenant
issues, group and organizational conflicts and family care decisions
or Prior to Day of Trial court referrals) do not require court appearance.
As long as there is no criminal action involved, the judge will
honor agreements arrived at through mediation.
An hour or two of effective communication is never time wasted.
85% of people who use mediation improve their situation.
Go to the page on this web site and fill out the requested information,
e-mail the Center at
or call us at .
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