| Community Dispute Resolution Center
The Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC), is a program
of the Center for Dispute Settlement (CDS) in collaboration with
George Washington University Law School.
CDRC is designed to provide FREE mediation, conciliation and facilitation
for businesses, lower and middle income families, and individuals
residing in the District of Columbia.
Mediation and conciliation enable organizations within the District
of Columbia to help clients resolve their differences amicably without rupturing
long-lasting relationships and allow individuals to resolve their
differences without resorting to violence.
CDRC Mediation Programs
Community Misdemeanor Mediation Service (CMMS)
The Community Misdemeanor Mediation Service is a partnership
between The Office of the United States Attorney for the District
of Columbia and the Community Dispute Resolution Center of Washington,
D.C. to divert both pre-arrest and post-arrest misdemeanor cases
to mediation. Cases that can be referred to mediation involve
charges such as:
- Shoplifting
- Simple Assault
- Threats
- Unlawful Entry
- Destruction of Property
CMMS mediations are conducted by volunteer mediators who are
practicing alternative dispute resolution professionals within
the D.C. Metropolitan area. Mediations are held at the
Misdemeanor Section of the United States Attorney’s Office
of the District of Columbia (555 4th Street, NW, 1st Floor).
If you are interested in referring a dispute to mediation,
please contact one of the Community Outreach Specialist assigned
to each police station in the District of Columbia: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/dc/outreach/cos.html
or you may contact: CDRC Program Manager, Caitlin Connelly (cconnelly@cdsusa.org)
at (202) 265-9572 for further information.
CMMS participants have stated:
“Was very helpful and positive..it should be used more
often.” -Complainant
“I was pleased that the mediation was available as
an option. I felt comfortable with the mediators. They were
extra careful in making me aware of the impartiality of the
process.” -Defendant
Office of Police Complaints (OPC)
The Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) and the Office
of Police Complaints (OPC) formed a partnership to mediate
citizen complaints against the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
Mediation cases involve issues such as:
- Inappropriate Language or Conduct
- Harassment
- Excessive or Unnecessary Use of Force
- Discrimination
- Abuse of Authority
All OPC mediations are conducted by volunteer mediators with
two years of mediation experience and who are approved by the
Office of Police Complaints Board.
Mediations are held at the Office of Police Complaints,
1400 I Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C.
For more information regarding the OPC Mediation Program,
please contact: CDRC Program Manager, Caitlin Connelly (cconnelly@cdsusa.org)
at (202) 265-9572.
To file a complaint against a D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer,
please contact the Office of Police Complaints at (202)
727-3838 or visit their website at: http://www.policecomplaints.dc.gov
OPC participants have stated:
“I think it’s a wonderful process to have for
the citizen and police officers. People don’t understand
one another’s lifestyles and jobs, so to have this type
of program is a good thing. Continue on with the outstanding job
of having a program like this.” -District of Columbia
Citizen
“The mediation process went very well. I thought that
it would be more hostile, however everyone was professional.”
-MPD Officer
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