Sec. 54-56m. Mediation programs. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 54-56m. Mediation programs. (a) There shall be established, in the geographical area of the Superior Court for the towns of Berlin, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, the geographical area of the Superior Court for the towns of Bethlehem, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Watertown, Wolcott, Woodbury and Waterbury, and such other geographical areas of the Superior Court as the Chief Court Administrator may designate, programs of mediation wherein the court may refer a criminal prosecution to mediation for resolution. For the purposes of this section, "mediation" means the process where two or more persons to a dispute agree to meet with an impartial third party to work toward a resolution of the dispute which is satisfactory to all parties in accordance with principles of mediation commonly used in labor management disputes.

      (b) If mediation is successful, the prosecuting authority, upon recommendation of the family relations counselor or mediation officer, shall enter a nolle prosequi and the prosecution shall be terminated and the defendant released from custody.

      (c) If mediation is unsuccessful or the defendant fails to comply with the terms of any mediation agreement, the family relations counselor or mediation officer shall notify the prosecuting authority and prosecution of the defendant may be initiated.

      (d) There shall be established, in the two geographical areas of the Superior Court enumerated in subsection (a) of this section and in such other geographical areas of the Superior Court as the Chief Court Administrator may designate, units to provide mediation services in cases referred by the court to mediation. In addition, mediation services in cases referred by the court to mediation may also be provided by private agencies under contract with the Judicial Department.

      (P.A. 82-383, S. 1; P.A. 85-344; P.A. 95-225, S. 48, 52; P.A. 02-132, S. 37.)

      History: P.A. 85-344 made mediation programs permanent rather than "pilot" programs and authorized instituting programs in geographical areas beyond those initially involved in pilot programs; P.A. 95-225 amended Subsec. (d) to add provision authorizing mediation services to also be provided by private agencies under contract with the Judicial Department, effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 02-132 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), changed family relations officer to family relations counselor in Subsecs. (b) and (c) and deleted reference to the Family Division of the Superior Court, added provision re other geological areas designated by the Chief Court Administrator and made technical changes in Subsec. (d).