Community Mediation And The Court System: The Ties That Bind
Tim Hedeen & Patrick G. Coy
ABSTRACT: Since their inception, community mediation programs in the United States have often been tied to
the justice system. This proximity is expressed in a number of ways--courts are the leading source of
case referrals for many programs; state or local court systems provide the majority of funding for many
programs; and it is partly through these ties that mediation programs have attained legitimacy in the
communities they serve. In fact, some programs are even housed within courthouses. While there are
benefits that accrue to mediation programs because of the cozy nature of this relationship, it is not
without problems for a movement that has also been deeply committed to community-building, citizen
empowerment, and the building of alternative institutions. We will highlight and analyze some of these
problems in what follows.
