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Civil Harassment Services
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| Click for Civil Harassment Mediation Orientation Video |
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Mediation is FREE and a voluntary, confidential alternative dispute resolution process where a trained impartial intermediary helps parties in conflict communicates respectfully and effectively with each other. The mediator facilitates communication by helping the parties define issues, identify interests and concerns, and explore potential solutions. The mediator assists the parties in reaching a mutually acceptable resolution of all or a part of their dispute. With the help of the mediator, the parties decide for themselves what resolution works best for them. In the last 30 years California courts have provided and supported mediation programs and best practices.
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Civil Harassment Cases Eligible for Mediation
Cases which may be considered for mediation include neighbor disputes, relationship conflicts involving acquaintances, co-workers, friends, family or relatives or person with third party disputes involving mutual friends. In the event the judicial officer learns, either before or after a referral to a volunteer mediator, that a CH case encompasses issues more appropriately addressed in other court divisions, the judicial officer will make an interim order as necessary, and immediately refer the case to the appropriate department or division. No such interim order should establish, award, or alter child custody or visitation rights. All such issues must be referred to a family law department.
All mediations are conducted at one of the two courthouses in Ventura County.
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Confidentiality: Restraining Order Mediation is a confidential communication process. By signing an Agreement to Mediate form all parties are indicating their awareness that the mediation process includes the following rules of confidentiality and exceptions;
· The only documents that may be introduced as evidence in civil court created in connection with this mediation are this agreement to mediate and/or a copy of the signed agreement resulting from this mediation.
· The parties cannot subpoena the mediator or compel the mediator to produce any documents provided by a party in any pending or future administrative or civil proceeding.
· Mediators may meet with parties alone or together. Mediation may consist of meetings with parties together or in separate sessions. The mediator or either party may request separate sessions during the mediation. If the mediator meets separately with each side, the statements you make to the mediator in that private meeting are confidential, unless you give permission to the mediator to give information to the other side.
· Exceptions to Confidentiality: All communication, negotiations or settlement discussion by participants during mediation or a mediation consultation shall remain confidential with the following exceptions; threats of imminent physical harm, information concerning child abuse or elder abuse, acts of violence that occur during the mediation. (Evidence code 1119 (c), 1122, 1123). It is also understood that mediators may make non-identifying disclosures for educational and research purposes.
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