Resolution Washington

Welcome to

Welcome to the Resolution Washington: An Association of Dispute Resolution Centers website!

Dispute Resolution Centers are operational in almost every part of the state and exist to provide low-cost and effective conflict resolution services to their respective communities through mediation, facilitation, training and community outreach.. DRC's offer highly trained, competent mediators and facilitators at very low cost to any person or organization in need.

There are currently 18 Dispute Resolution Centers operating in Washington State, with a coverage are of approximately 91% of all Washington residents. There is a DRC near you!

We exist for one purpose: to provide effective and inexpensive conflict resolution services to our respective communities. While the centers themselves may have paid administrative staff, we rely on the services of highly trained, dedicated volunteers. Our funding sources are the courts, donations, and fees for service. The effectiveness of mediation is clear: 70% of all cases that came to local dispute resolution centers were successfully settled.

Law specifically authorizes the existence of DRC's in Washington State:

To stimulate the development and use of centers as an alternative to the courts on certain issues;

To encourage community participation in local programs;

To develop structures which can serve as models for other centers;

To resolve disputes within the community; and

To educate the community about dispute resolution and prevention.

Mediation through a DRC offers the fastest, easiest, cheapest, safest and most effective means of settling disputes available today. In 2004, Resolution Washington member centers served more than 45,765 Washington residents, mediated 5,988 cases, provided training to 7,481 people, and had 1,155 volunteers who together provided 42.220 hours of service.

Members of resolution Washington provided a wide variety of services to the residents of our state. Small claims cases increased to 58.9% of all cases in 2004. Mediating these cases saved our court system $915,468. When asked if they would recommend mediation to others, 90% of all participants answered in the affirmative. The total settlement rate was 68%.

Increasingly, local, state and federal courts are turning to mediation, as are the military, governments at the local, county and state levels, government agencies, corporations, schools, universities, nonprofits agencies, attorneys, physicians and many other professions.

Why not you?

We welcome you to our website!

Susan Thornton, President

Resolution Washington

E-Mail: info@disputeresolutioncenter.com

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