Resources

State Level

Mediation & Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO)

Community Mediation Maryland (CMM)

Criminal Offenses

The Upper Shore State's Attorney Mediation Program (USSAMP) offers a way to resolve charges in certain criminal offenses by providing the opportunity for the complaining party and the defendant to work out their dispute through mediation without going to court. The objectives of the program are to:
Reduce case load for Courts and States Attorney's Offices
Reduce time cases are pending.
Empower parties to participate in their own dispute resolution process.
Expand community knowledge and use of mediation.

Cases may be selected for mediation by the Mediation Program Coordinator or cases may be submitted to mediation by a District Court Commissioner. The complaining party may request mediation by contacting the Mediation Program Coordinator (443-553-1607). Cases only proceed to mediation with the approval of the State's Attorney or designee. If the parties reach an agreement in mediation, the State's Attorney will either agree to not prosecute the case or to place the case on the stet docket until the terms of the agreement have been satisfied. Maintaining a case on the stet docket is appropriate where, for example, restitution or completion of some course of treatment such as anger management has been agreed to by the parties. If mediation is attempted, but an agreement is not reached, the case will continue to trial as if mediation had not occurred.