Jordan* and Morgan* were neighbors who never were able to get along. Whether arguing over property lines, noise levels, or clutter in front of their homes, they constantly found themselves in disagreement. When returning home one day, Jordan found a broken window on the side of her house. She confronted Morgan about this, who quickly denied any responsibility. After a series of questions, Jordan was not convinced. The two were referred to the Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDR) in Buffalo City Court to help settle the matter.
The CDR Program, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, aims to reduce the number of low-level criminal cases in Buffalo City Court by resolving disputes through mediation and conflict coaching. The Erie County DA’s Office, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, and Child & Family Services’ Center for Resolution and Justice (CRJ) developed the program that was then implemented by CRJ in Buffalo City Court. The program aims to support parties in resolving issues, encourage participants to strategize steps for positive interactions, and reduce future conflicts. The services provided are free, voluntary, and confidential.
When Jordan and Morgan sat down with their mediator, they were able to discuss all of their differences and past disputes. They also learned that they had more in common than they had previously known. Jordan and Morgan were both caring for elderly parents, which they found to add extra pressure on their lives.
As the discussion continued, Morgan admitted that she was responsible for the broken window. It was an accident, and she panicked when confronted by Jordan because she thought it would be seen as intentional destruction due to their past disagreements. Morgan apologized for breaking the window and for lying about it, which Jordan accepted. Morgan then offered to assist in repairing the window.
Not only did the CDR Program assist in the resolution of this dispute, but also positively developed Jordan and Morgan’s relationship to a point that the two actually exchanged cell phone numbers so they could maintain an open line of communication.
*Names changed for confidentiality.