The South Central Early Settlement Mediation is a program sponsored by East Central University and funded by the Administrative office of the Courts of Oklahoma.   The program is currently asking for volunteers.   It provides a convenient option for dispute resolution outside of the traditional court system.   It is fair, effective, and less expensive than litigation. 

The program is overseen by volunteer mediators who help participants explore and evaluate potential solutions to their legal issues.   The goal is to help parties in a dispute find a mutually satisfactory resolution to their dispute for little to no cost.   Mediation is free to all cases that are referred to the center and $5 per person for all non-court related disputes. 

There were just over 400 cases referred to the South Central Program in 2016.   The settlement rate was 67% for these cases.   According to Judge Trace Sherrill of Bryan County, There were 405 cases referred to the South Central Program last fiscal year with a program settlement rate of 67 percent.   “Early Settlement Mediation assists the Courts by reducing the number of cases going to trial.   The Program assists the parties by reducing their costs of litigation and achieving a mutually agreeable outcome in their case”.  

The mediation program is different than a hearing because the people involved in the dispute are deciding the outcome.   If they cannot reach an agreement they both agree on, they have the option of going to court.   As long as both parties participate in good faith, they are free to walk away whenever they choose.