The Bexar County Commissioners Court established the Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center on February 15, 1984. The founding of the Center was undertaken with the advice and support of the San Antonio Bar Association. By-laws establishing the Center call for an Advisory Board appointed by Commissioners Court from nominees submitted by the San Antonio Bar Association, the Bexar County District Attorney's Office and the Bexar County Commissioners. The accomplishments of the Center have earned it favorable support from the legal community as well as the community at large.
The Center's primary focus is to provide mediation services to residents of Bexar County. The Center's Multi-Door Program is the initial point of entry for a citizen with a dispute. Intake workers interview the initiating party, clarify the situation and assist in identifying the most appropriate entity available to resolve the situation. The Multi-Door Program focuses on fostering easy public access to problem resolution by providing a coordinated system of referrals to dispute resolution processes within Bexar County's judicial system. The program's information and referral network links the Justices of the Peace Courts; attorney and legal assistance offices; district, county and city attorney offices and courts; the Dispute Resolution Center; and other governmental and private service agencies.
MEDIATION PROGRAMS:
The Center provides mediation services on a wide variety of issues and types
of disputes. The Center has seven mediation programs:
1. Community-Based Mediation - The Dispute Resolution Center mediates disputes involving such issues as broken promises, theft of services, money owed, harassment, borrowed goods, noise levels, and destruction of property. Typical relationships involved in the cases mediated include: neighbors, friends or relatives, landlord/tenant, consumer/merchant, business/business, and employer/employee.
2. Court-Ordered Litigation Mediation - Cases are referred to the Center for mediation by the Bexar County District Courts, Bexar County Courts-at-Law, and Bexar County Probate Courts. Cases typically involve matters of personal injury, contract disputes, pre-divorce matters, personal property, and real estate.
3. Family Mediation - The Center mediates post-divorce matters involving family and visitation issues. These cases are referred to the Center by the Bexar County Child Support Division, the Attorney General's Office, Legal Aid, and local law enforcement agencies.
4. Juvenile (Victim-Offender) Mediation - Juvenile cases are referred to the Center by the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department. These cases are not court-ordered, however, mediation is scheduled in lieu of court. Juvenile cases referred to the Center usually involve first time offenders who have been charged with a misdemeanor of some sort such as graffiti, vandalism or a minor assault. The respondent in the case is the victim of the misdemeanor.
5. Child Abuse and Neglect Mediation - Texas law mandates that children who have been removed from their home and placed in temporary foster care by the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services (DPRS) must be placed in a permanent home within twelve months. Within one year, a Texas court must issue a final order to return the child to the parents, appoint DPRS or another person as managing conservator, or terminate the parents' rights. As a means of resolving these cases in a more timely manner, the Child Abuse and Neglect Court orders these cases to the Center for mediation.
6. Justice of the Peace Courts Mediation - The Center mediates small claims disputes on site at the Justice of the Peace Courts on predetermined days. If the presiding judge determines that a small claims case is appropriate for mediation, he/she will order it to be mediated immediately.
7. Multiparty Public Dispute Mediation - The Center provides a forum through which government, industry, neighborhood associations, public interest groups, and others can work together to resolve controversial public issues and disputes. Types of public issues appropriate for mediation include land and water use, air quality, education issues, waste management, health care, environmental protection and other public concerns.
CASELOAD:
From February 15, 1984 through June 30, 2000, the Center processed 87,370 intakes
and set 21,215 cases for mediation. In an average twelve-month period, the Center
processes approximately 6,500 intakes and sets 1,500 cases for mediation. The
Center maintains an 81% settlement rate for all cases mediated.
PEER MEDIATION
TRAINING PROGRAM:
The Amigos in Mediation (AIM) peer mediation training program teaches school
faculty and students ways to resolve disputes and conflicts without violence.
The mission of the AIM program is to help schools establish their own self-sustaining
peer mediation programs which will improve the conflict resolution skills of
students and school personnel, reduce the number of school disciplinary incidents,
and create a more positive school environment. AIM training is provided free
of charge to all public schools located within Bexar County.
SPEAKERS BUREAU:
The BCDRC Speakers Bureau was developed in order to raise the public's awareness
of mediation and conflict resolution skills and to promote the services provided
by the BCDRC. The Speakers Bureau is available seven days a week to present
discussions on these topics to community groups, civic organizations, clubs,
and neighborhood associations. The Speakers Bureau also presents displays promoting
the use of mediation to resolve disputes at neighborhood fairs, school functions,
civic events and other community activities.
DRC VOLUNTEERS:
The Center is staffed by eleven county employees and one hundred fifty volunteer
mediators. These volunteers are the backbone of the Center as they provide an
abundance of services. Since 1984, the Center has held twelve Forty-Hour Mediation
Training Programs and four Family Mediation Training Programs. Individuals who
volunteer at the Center have varied backgrounds including employment in the
fields of education, military service, mental health, law, administration/management
and social service. Seventy-two percent of the volunteers work full time; the
remaining 28% of the volunteers are either employed on a part-time basis or
retired. Sixty-eight percent of the Center's volunteers hold postgraduate degrees.
Thirty-five percent of the volunteers speak Spanish. Two percent are bilingual
in other languages.
For more information
contact: Marlene Labenz-Hough, Director - Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center,
300 Dolorosa St., Suite 1102, San Antonio, Texas 78205-3009. (210) 335-2128;
E-Mail: bcdrc@co.bexar.tx.us; webpage: http://www.co.bexar.tx.us/drc-home.htm