The Office of Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is pleased to provide free Community Mediation and Public Safety Mediation services to residents and businesses in Los Angeles through the Dispute Resolution Program ("DRP"). The process is voluntary, confidential, and completely free of charge.
Community Mediation brings people together to resolve issues including, but not limited to, the following:
- Landlord-Tenant
- Neighbor-Neighbor
- Consumer-Merchant
- Business-Business
- Labor/Employment
- Family/Domestic
- School Related
- LGBTQ+
Public Safety Mediation is a collaboration between the Dispute Resolution Program and various public safety agencies, including:
- Los Angeles Police Department (Community-Police Unification (CPU) program)
- Los Angeles Fire Department (Community Mediation Partnership)
The L.A. City Attorney's Public Safety Mediation program provides opportunities to mediate certain complaints of discourtesy and bias with the goal of building understanding, closure and transforming the relationship between LA’s public safety officers and the communities they serve. This process serves as an alternative to the traditional complaint investigation procedure.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party facilitates communication between parties to resolve their disputes. It is a great option for individuals or businesses seeking alternatives to the traditional justice system. The process is completely voluntary, and each mediation is tailored to the parties’ specific issues and goals.
DRP utilizes trained volunteer mediators to assist parties in resolving conflicts through the use of specific communication and negotiation techniques. Volunteer mediators are trained to be fair and neutral, with the goal of guiding parties toward mutually agreeable and sustainable resolutions.
Benefits of Mediation
Mediation through the Dispute Resolution Program can have a number of benefits, including:
- No Cost. These services are completely free of charge! Mediation can also save money that might otherwise be spent on court costs (attorney's fees and court expenses.)
- Saves Time. Mediations are typically completed in a single day. Even in an extremely complex case, a dispute can be resolved through mediation much faster than the lengthy court litigation process.
- Unbiased. An impartial Mediator guides the process. It is the mediator’s job to remain neutral – to never take a side.
- Confidential. Information disclosed during a mediation process will be kept private, unless both parties agree to reveal the information.
- Voluntary. Parties have the freedom to choose whether to participate in mediation.
- Voice and Control. Mediation empowers you to express your interests and concerns and the flexibility to design your own solution
- Greater Satisfaction. Mediation can reduce stress by encouraging cooperation and communication, while discouraging the adversarial atmosphere found in litigation.
These services are made possible in part through support from the L.A. County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs and the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act.