COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
The focus of Community Mediation is to:
- Promote alternative dispute resolution processes that enable individuals, community/neighborhood groups, and organizations to resolve conflicts without litigation; and to
- Improve community group and personal relationships through neutral third party, faceting, conciliating, facilitating, mediation and arbitration.
Go to Police-Related Program detailed descriptions
Community Mediation/Arbitration
Individuals may be referred by courts, police, community agencies or call the local Center for Dispute Settlement office personally. Staff will listen to their concerns and advise if the Center can help. They will be assisted in filling out a form explaining the problem and solution sought. The other party or parties will be contacted. If all parties agree to mediate or arbitrate, a time and place for the meeting will be set with a trained impartial third party.
Each party explains its side of the dispute without interruption. All sides discuss all areas of disagreement and examine all possible solutions. Any settlement is written in a legally binding consent agreement. In arbitration, a legally binding award is rendered. In conjunction with an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD), misdemeanor and selected felony charges may be referred, to their local Center for Dispute Settlement office, by Town, Village and City Court Judges in Ontario and Yates Counties.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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Provides mediation services for workplace conflict and assists large and small private businesses by protecting employer-employee relations.
Available in the following counties: Ontario and Yates
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Small-Claims Mediation/Arbitration
Parties who are in dispute over matters that are referred to Small-Claims Court and involve claims of up to $5,000 (depending on the County Court) can be allowed the option of mediation and/or binding arbitration.
Cost and fees are dramatically less than the legal fees associated with having such matters adjudicated.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
Parties with a civil dispute regarding property, non-payment of loans or restitution for damages up to $3,000 may request mediation or arbitration as a means of resolving the issue.
Small Claims Mediation is recommended in situations where the parties have had a close relationship and where there may be emotional concerns to be addressed along with the resolution of monies owed.
In Small Claims Arbitration the parties present their claim, with whatever evidence they can provide, to the arbitrator who makes a binding decision within 30 days of the Hearing.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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Commercial Arbitration/Mediation
Businesses and organizations can quickly, fairly and cost-effectively agree to submit their dispute to mediation or arbitration. Business may also proactively and efficiently address interpersonal employer/employee or employee/employee conflict prior to escalation and lost productivity.
Assists large and small private businesses by protecting employer-employee relations
Assists business associations by making Center for Dispute Settlement services available to your affiliates
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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The Center for Dispute Settlement provides intervention services to organizations, schools, businesses and community groups who are experiencing multiparty and/or organizational conflict on a fee for services basis.
Intervention services employ the use of third party neutrals to assist in the assessment and resolution of a dysfunctional situation. Services provided include:
- Group facilitation;
- Fact-finding, and;
- Recommendations and conflict resolution process design.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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The Center for Dispute Settlement provides election services to community groups, municipal and county agencies and corporations in the form of third party neutrals to conduct elections.
This service includes but is not limited to:
- Developing election plans according to the by-laws and/or standards set forth by the particular entity
- Validating petitions
- Distributing, receiving and tabulating ballots
- Monitoring of the election process
- Verifying election results
- Assists trade groups by training staff to defuse tempers
- Assists non-profit organizations by teaching clients conflict management strategies
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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The focus of CDS police-related programs is to ensure fair and equitable treatment by the law-enforcement and legal systems, and to proactively involve community members in local policing actions.
Law Enforcement Civilian Oversight and Review
(also known as the Civilian Review Board)
This process is lauded throughout the country for its unique approach to civilian oversight of law enforcement because of the exclusive use of certified mediators as objective reviewers.
The Civilian Review Board is a panel of three civilians selected on a rotating basis from a pool of qualified mediators trained by the Center for Dispute Settlement that has the responsibility of reviewing citizen complaints of alleged police misconduct. Investigations are done by the professional Standards Section of the Rochester Police Department, and Internal Affairs of the Monroe County Sheriff’s office.
After reviewing the investigation packets, the Board submits findings of Sustained, Unprovable/Not-sustained, Exonerated and/or Unfounded and recommendations, as appropriate, to the Chief of Police and the Monroe County Sheriff.
Available in the following counties: Monroe/City of Rochester
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Police Conciliation is a voluntary, confidential, process offered to a citizen and Rochester police officer to informally resolve the issues contained in a citizen complaint. The meeting, conducted by a trained Center for Dispute Settlement mediator in a neutral environment, is private, confidential and no cost to those who participate.
Both the officer and civilian will have the opportunity to bring closure to the incident by clarifying each other's perspectives and the circumstances surrounding the incident. The nature of the allegation against the officer must not involve a use of force, criminal activity, missing property, or other serious procedural matters. If the conciliation should fail, the citizen maintains the right to request an investigation of their complaint.
Available in the following counties: Monroe/City of Rochester
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Trained mediators from the Center for Dispute Settlement serve on a three-member panel. They review completed investigations of citizen complaints about employees of the Sheriff's Department.
A written decision with recommendations is rendered to the Sheriff.
Available in the following counties: Monroe
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Police Complaint Intake (City of Rochester & Town of Irondequoit)
The Center for Dispute Settlement serves as an alternate site for citizens who wish to initiate formal personnel complaints against members of the Rochester Police Department. With this program, Center staff works with the citizen to finalize a written complaint and then forwards the complaint to the Professional Standards Section for follow-up.
The Center for Dispute Settlement is also designated as an impartial independent intake center for citizens wishing to file a complaint against a member of the Irondequoit Police Department. This offers participants an informal meeting with a representative of the police department facilitated by a trained Center staff person/mediator.
Available in the following counties: Monroe/City of Rochester and Town of Irondequoit
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Police/Community Relations Program: "Building Bridges"
The goal of the Center for Dispute Settlement Police/Community Relations Program (P/CRP) is to improve to relationship that exists between law enforcement and citizens.
The program is rooted in the assumption that a citizenry that is more knowledgeable and/or educated on matters of police policy and practice will interact with law enforcement on a more positive level as well as become more participatory in terms of community policing initiatives. The program provides opportunities for information exchange between police and citizens that allow for improved communication and understanding for the total community.
The P/CRP OUTREACH effort provides training presentations and learning opportunities for more that 1,000 people annually through workshops, conferences, forums and other facilitated events as part of the Center’s BUILDING BRIDGES; Improving Police/Community Relations, Community Mediation effort. Many community groups, agencies and organizations through outreach contacts and referrals receive and benefit from activities such as training presentations on the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in Police Matters, Civilian Oversight of law enforcement, processes for filing complaints for alleged police misconduct or to compliment an officer for a job well down, police practice, community participation in public process and more.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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The Kops ’n Kids program involves youth and police officers in an experientially based dialog designed to surface and examine those perceptions, assumptions, beliefs, attitudes, judgments and values that may lead to stereotyping and, ultimate, conflict.
The long-term goal is to build durable relationships with the police and youth. By training officers and youth the hope is to build a strong, connected community in the future.
Available in the following counties: Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates
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