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Dependency Mediation: Help for Families and Courts

Thoennes, Nancy. Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Jan. 1, 2000

This study of a mandatory, court-annexed child protection mediation program in Colorado's Fourth Judicial District looked at court records, data provided by mediators, and interviews with professionals who participated in mediation to determine that nearly 70% of cases in mediation settled, that agreements reached in mediation were not significantly different from judgments in comparison cases, that overall satisfaction with the program was high among both judges and participants, and that the mediation program was saving the court $637 per case filed.

Description of Study: Evaluation of the efficiency of a dependency mediation program in Colorado’s 4th Judicial District

Method: Attorneys, caseworkers and other professionals who participated in mediation were interviewed. Data on cases was provided by mediators immediately after each mediation that was completed over an 8 month period. This was compared to data from court records of cases mediated 15 months earlier as well as data from court records of comparable cases that were not mediated.

Comparative: Yes

Comparison Groups: Cases that were mediated were matched to comparable cases in a jurisdiction without mediation.

Sample Size: 146 mediator reports; court records on 97 mediated cases and 48 non-mediated cases

Variables Examined: Settlement rate, cost to court

Program Variables: Mandatory, free program. The evaluation of the program took place three years after it began.

Findings: 90% of cases at least partially resolved in mediation (70% full resolution). Mediation saves court money both for individual cases, and over all.

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