Several Upper Shore counties, including Cecil County, and local State’s Attorney’s Offices created the Upper Shore State’s Attorney’s Mediation Program (USSAMP) in 2003 to provide a way for certain civilian filed cases to be resolved outside the courtroom. Eligible cases are referred to CCCMC to offer mediation services.
Because participants choose mediation voluntarily, make their own decisions, and control the outcome of the mediation, they tend to create agreements that last. 45% of cases settled by court order must return to court for enforcement; however, just 21% of cases settled through mediation must return to court for enforcement.