NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER

The mediations that occur in the Neighborhood Justice Center fulfill two very important goals in the criminal justice system. First, the mediations can provide creative solutions to problems, which may not be available in the standard setting of a criminal case. Second, the mediations are an efficient and economical use of resources for minor disputes that tend to receive little time or attention in an already overburdened court system. Our office is committed to continuing efforts such as the Neighborhood Justice Center, which provides effective alternatives to the adversarial process of the courts.

John R. Newsome
District Attorney

The Neighborhood Justice Center is a program designed to help citizens peacefully resolve disputes through mediation hearings. The Neighborhood Justice Center is an alternative to court hearings and can reduce the case loads of the courts, as well as provide immediate help to those who have conflicts that need to be acted upon quickly. Mediation has been successful in settling more than 80% of citizen complaints across the country.

WHAT IS MEDIATION?

Mediation is a process that, with the assistance of a trained, neutral mediator or facilitator, focuses on identification of issues creating conflict and development of mutually acceptable resolutions. The emphasis is on problem solving as opposed to determination of guilt or innocence.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER?

Parties will be contacted by NJC staff to discuss their case, and the availability of mediation as a way of resolving the issues involved. Sessions are conducted by a trained mediator who will explain the process, establish ground rules, and ask the parties to explain the situation from their perspective. Once the problems are identified, the mediator will assist the parties in developing mutually agreeable terms for resolving the issues creating the conflict.

HOW ARE REFERRALS MADE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTER?

Referrals can be made through:

• Teller County Law Enforcement agencies
• El Paso County Sheriff's Department
• Colorado Springs Police Department
• Community agencies
• Walk-in clients wishing to file a complaint and to request mediation services
• Prosecution/court referrals
• Schools

Regardless of the referral source, all parties must voluntarily agree to participate in the program.

HOW MUCH DOES MEDIATION COST?

The hearing officers for the Neighborhood Justice Center are hired by the District Attorney's Office and are trained in mediation techniques. The citizen is not charged a fee for this service.

The hearings are conveniently scheduled during the week to accommodate the public.