Programs
Court

Cassandra Daniels - Court Mediator

The majority of CM's mediation case referrals are minor criminal cases referred to CM by the prosecutors in New Haven's G.A. No. 23 Court.  Typical cases mediated are breach of peace, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, minor assault, threatening and harassment.  In 2004, this agency handled 1,187 cases, of which 679 (57%) were court referrals.  Over 60% of these cases are resolved successfully through staff conciliations or mediations using our staff or trained volunteer mediators. 

Dudley Flake is our Adult Court Coordinator.  He is helped in the G.A. 23 court by our Youth Coordinator John Jairo Lugo, our Family Coordinator La’Rie McGruder Hunt, and our semi-retired, but still very active, Court Contractor Dean Peckham.  CM also maintains a Juvenile Mediation Program in the Juvenile Court in New Haven under the direction of our Youth Coordinator John Jairo Lugo.  The following is an example of the type of case that we mediate on a daily basis in the G.A. 23 court.

The owner of a social club has a dispute with a patron who refuses to obey club rules.  The owner says the patron refused to leave club premises; the patron says the owner improperly placed his hands on her while asking her to leave; the police are called, and both persons are arrested.  When the case comes to court, the presiding judge or one of the prosecutors asks the parties to try to mediate their dispute and refers them to CM.  Through CM the people talk and LISTEN to each other.  The owner apologizes; the patron is satisfied with the apology; and the court case is closed.

The State of Connecticut through the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division funds our mediation services in the adult and juvenile courts.   Mediation is cost-effective.  Had any one of the cases that we mediate continued further in the criminal justice system, it would have cost the state criminal justice system many thousands of dollars.