Dispute Mediation Service Inc. (DMS) has served Dallas County, Courts, and people since 1980-1981.

Since opening for service DMS has closed 41,974 cases and assisted 167,896 parties.

Case settlement rates have averaged about 65%.

Over 90% of respondents to DMS evaluations indicate their case would have gone to trial if the case had not settled in mediation.

Client evaluations returned to DMS show an average 93% satisfaction rate.

DMS has maintained a well trained corps of volunteer mediators numbering over 1700 with 200 to 400 active any given year.

Mediators at DMS consistently give over 3,000 volunteer hours each year. If they billed clients at $100 per hour they are making at least a $300,000 contibution to the benefit of the community in dispute resolution.

DMS provides a diverse corps of volunteers to serve the community. Thirty five mediators are bilingual.

On-site mediation is provided at Family Court, Justice of the Peace Courts, Dallas Housing Authority sites, Nexus Recovery Center for Women, and Dallas Police Offices.

A practicum is offered for newly trained mediators for them to gain experience Basic mediation training and divorce mediation training is offered annually. These trainings meet the requirements of Chapter 154 of Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code and the standards promulgated by the Texas Mediator Trainers Roundtable. DMS also offers four advanced mediation trainings annually in order for mediators to meet the standards of Texas Mediator Credentialing Association (TMCA).

An ongoing public information program is maintained with public service announcements, radio and TV interviews, attendance at community fairs, a telephone call in program called “Talk to a Mediator” for people to call in for discussion of their problem/dispute.

DMS collaborates with the Youth Conflict Resolution Center (YCRC) to offer conflict resolution training at Dallas Recreation Centers and periodic sessions for youth referred from Municipal Courts or Police for training in dealing with conflicts, anger management, and other life skills.