The Dayton Mediation Center provides a process where people make decisions for themselves about their situation. Empowering people to take care of their own problems is government being efficient and is cost effective in the long term.

In court, the trial can only look at certain aspects of the case. They cannot look at the history and reconcile the disputes that may have been brewing for a long time. The services offered by Dayton Mediation Center allow parties not to just focus on what happened that day, but parties can discuss whatever they need to get at the root of the problem.

Referring citizen disputes in situations where no law is broken frees officers to respond to more serious situations. We know that when citizens are referred to mediation, calls from these citizens are reduced.

One of the most important values of the Dayton Mediation Center is the assistance that is offered to Dayton Municipal courts. Ninety-eight percent of people who go to court will go to a municipal court. In court, the case is set up for a winner and a loser. Services through the Dayton Mediation Center allow people to create a win-win solution.

It seems clear the people feel better when they are able to resolve their own dispute rather than going to court and being told the outcome. This is what the Dayton Mediation Center offers our community.

The Dayton Mediation Center's services should be used for exoffenders, their families, and the community to help ease the transition to home life, help children and families reunify, and help exoffenders see the impact of their actions on the community.