The testimony surveys components of the Cleveland Prosecutor Mediation Program, including the hearing process, staff training, and screening domestic violence complaints. Complaints that are not appropriate for mediation are discussed, along with the criminal justice system's failure to deal with problems underlying an interpersonal dispute and thus prevent further violence. Concluding remarks emphasize that an evaluation conducted by the Cincinnati Institute of Justice (CIJ) found that 82 percent of those disputants who went through a domestic violence hearing were completely satisfied with the mediation process. Moreover, CIJ found that within a year after mediation between the disputing parties, 75 to 80 percent still were adhering to their settlements. Reasons underlying the mediation program's effectiveness include mediators' training, extensive use of Cleveland's social service and legal agencies, and screening of domestic disputes.