Spanish: DCC Mediation Program Video

For years, many North Carolina community mediation centers have partnered with their local district attorneys and judges to make mediation available in North Carolina’s district criminal courts. These efforts have been successful and many misdemeanor criminal cases have been settled to the satisfaction of complaining witnesses, defendants, and others involved in these disputes. Settlements have also meant that the State was saved the expense of a trial. The community mediation centers involved in these efforts are non-profit agencies, pursuant to G.S. 7A-38.5, and are dedicated to the peaceful resolution of conflict in North Carolina’s communities. Many of the mediators who serve these centers are volunteers working to help their fellow citizens.

In 2006, the Dispute Resolution Commission set about creating a framework to formalize and standardize the process of mediating misdemeanor criminal matters. Legislation providing for statewide certification and regulation of district criminal court mediators, G.S. 7A-38.3D, was enacted by the General Assembly in 2007. Also in 2007, the Supreme Court of North Carolina adopted Rules Implementing Mediation In Matters Pending In District Criminal Court.

Since 2007, a number of community mediation centers have opted to participate in the District Criminal Court Mediation Program, submitting their mediators for certification and regulation by the Commission and mediating cases referred by their local district criminal courts in accordance with the Supreme Court’s Rules.

District Criminal Court Mediation Brochure (English and Spanish) 

The Rules of Mediation for Matters in District Criminal Court.

Disclaimer: While every effort was made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the rules available on the DRC/NC Courts website, the Dispute Resolution Commission/Administrative Office of the Courts is not responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur in these rules. See the General Statues of North Carolina, Rules volume.

• AOC-CR-700 - The Report of Mediator in District Criminal Court Matters
• AOC-DRC-05 - Dispute Resolution Commission Complaint Form
• AOC-DRC-11 - Application For Certification to Conduct District Criminal Court Mediations
• AOC-DRC-12 - Certificate of Observations (District Criminal Court Mediation)
• AOC-DRC-13 - Certificate of Co-Mediations (District Criminal Court Mediation)
• AOC-DRC-14 - District Criminal Court Mediator Evaluation Form
• AOC-DRC-21 Application for Recertification to Conduct Criminal Court Mediations

Dispute Resolution Commission
PO Box 2448
Raleigh, NC 27602
Telephone(919) 890-1415