Civil diversion in the courts
Civil diversion programs operate within or adjacent to the formal court process to provide litigants with the time, information, and resources to resolve disputes in a less harmful way.
How do civil diversion programs work?
Strong civil diversion programs rely on community partnerships, with courts creating referrals to local assistance and providing in-person or virtual spaces for program partners to meet with litigants.
A set of guidelines established by the Conference of Chief Judges and Conference of State Court Administrators (CCJ/COSCA) can help you establish court-connected programs and offer alternatives to litigation, such as mediation, settlement conferences, or community-based resolution.
Effective communication with parties
The most effective programs require courts to spell out clearly who can take part and ensure litigants are aware of alternatives early in the process. Public outreach can include adding program details in a summons or complaint, using text or e-mail reminders, or targeted postings on social media.
Courts can add incentives as well, such as reducing or waiving filing fees or expediting hearing dates for those in civil diversion programs.
Relevant programs responsive to community needs
Your court and community partners should meet frequently to assess how programs are working, and data should be shared freely to ensure goals are being met and needs are being addressed.
Watch our civil diversion webinarsÂ
Our four-part series offers invaluable insights on successful implementation of civil diversion programs.
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Grow your civil diversion programs for better communities
We're here to kickstart your planning or help you grow your current civil diversion efforts and discuss the best approach for your court.
