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The Community Mediation Center provides a variety of mediation services to the residents of St. Mary’s County. We also partner with the CMC of Calvert and Charles County and refer cases to them as appropriate.
Mediators assist individuals with a wide range of issues, including family and neighborhood conflicts, landlord-tenant issues, group and organizational conflicts and family care decisions for elderly adults.
Mediators provide an alternative dispute resolution service to individuals participating in District Court cases. They assist in diverse legal actions, including unsatisfactory services, unpaid accounts, return of deposits and claims for damages.
The State’s Attorney in St. Mary’s County refers minor cases to the Center for mediation. Experience with these cases has been very positive, giving participants the opportunity to deescalate their conflict and resolve their differences outside the criminal court system.
Our partnership with the Sheriff’s Department focuses on early intervention. Deputies carry tear-off pads of mediation referral sheets that they offer to residents involved in family or neighborhood conflict. Deputies referred 207 cases to mediation in the second year of our alliance. This doubled the first year's total of 103 mediation referrals. Volunteer mediators also participate in ride-along opportunities with the deputies.
Specially trained mediators help mediate discrimination complaints brought through the Equal Opportunity Commission and the MCHR. Participants have the opportunity to converse and seek common understanding. Those who are able to do so may avoid many months of investigative process and potential court action.
In addition to offering free mediation services, the Center also offers facilitation services to businesses, organizations and agencies to help them build stonger teams and work together more effectively.
Upon referral from the Circuit Court Family Services Coordinators in St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties, specially trained mediators help parents, children, Department of Social Services (DSS) representatives and their respective attorneys have constructive conversations in support of family and foster care issues, permanency planning and termination of parental rights (TPR).
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