Program Evaluations
More Than Meets the Eye: Civil Case Mediation Usage in the 17th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
Jennifer Shack. 2008
Official court statistics were showing a sharp decline in the use of mediation for large civil cases in the 17th Judicial Circuit. Believing more mediation was occurring than was being reported, the court requested a study to find out.
Over the course of a year, judges tracked cases in which settlement was stipulated. Lawyers and mediators were then surveyed to discover if the cases were mediated. The study found that more than twice as many and perhaps more than three times as many cases were mediated in the study period than had been reported to the court.
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May be reproduced for educational, non-profit use, provided RSI's authorship is acknowledged using the following language:
"Reprinted by permission of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR)/Resolution Systems Institute(RSI). Copyright 2008 Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, Illinois."
An Evaluation of the Second Judicial Circuit of Illinois Pilot Judicial Mediation Program for Custody and Visitation Disputes in Crawford, Edwards, Lawrence, Richland, Wayne, and White Counties
Jennifer Shack. 2006
This study examines the outcomes of the first 15 months of the Second Judicial Circuit's judicial mediation program for custody and visitation disputes. Included in the report are the issues mediated, the resolution rate, time spent in mediation, the parents' perception of their experience, and the mediator's perceptions of the process.
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May be reproduced for educational, non-profit use, provided RSI's authorship is acknowledged using the following language:
"Reprinted by permission of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR)/Resolution Systems Institute(RSI). Copyright 2006 Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, Illinois."
Civil Case Mediation Program for the Northern District of Illinois (Western Division): Interim Evaluation
Jennifer Shack. 2004
This is an evaluation of the first year of a court-ordered mediation pilot program. The program operates in Rockford, Illinois, the seat of the Western Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The evaluation looked at referral rates, settlement rates, satisfaction, and perceived cost savings to litigants. It found that on the whole the program is operating as planned and that those who have participated in it tend to view it favorably. However, referral rates are lower than expected.
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May be reproduced for educational, non-profit use, provided RSI's authorship is acknowledged using the following language:
"Reprinted by permission of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR)/Resolution Systems Institute(RSI). Copyright 2004 Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, Illinois."
An Evaluation of the Lanham Act Mediation Program - U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Susan M. Yates and Jennifer Shack. 2000
This study looked at court records and survey data to determine: 1) the actual number of mediations being done in the Lanham Act Mediation Program and 2) attitudes of lawyers and neutrals toward the program and toward mediation in general.
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May be reproduced for educational, non-profit use, provided RSI's authorship is acknowledged using the following language:
"Reprinted by permission of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR)/Resolution Systems Institute(RSI). Copyright 2000 Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago, Illinois."