THE AIM OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ESTABLISH THREE EXPERIMENTAL NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTERS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A MODEL CENTER THAT MAY BE REPLICATED AROUND THE COUNTRY. THE CENTER CONCEPT IS BASED ON THE USE OF MEDIATION OR ARBITRATION, USING A PANEL OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TRAINED FOR HANDLING DISPUTES, TO SETTLE DISPUTES BETWEEN PARTIES WHO ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE. WHERE MEDIATION IS NOT APPROPRIATE OR NOT AGREED TO, THE CENTER WOULD PROVIDE A REFERRAL SERVICE TO AGENCIES OR COURTS BEST SUITED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. TWO OBJECTIVES OF CENTERS ARE TO DEVELOP A PROVEN MECHANISM THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING THE EXPEDITIOUS, INEXPENSIVE, AND FAIR RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES AND TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE RENDERED TO THE COMMUNITY. THE BEST LOCATION FOR A CENTER IS ANY EXISTING MUNICIPAL OR OTHER PUBLIC BUILDING, OTHER THAN A POLICE STATION. SUCH A LOCATION MINIMIZES OVERHEAD COSTS, IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONCEPT OF CENTERS AS EXTENSIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND WILL PROVIDE CENTERS WITH AN AURA OF SERIOUSNESS AND AUTHORITY THAT WILL SERVE TO CONVINCE THE COMMUNITY THAT CENTERS CAN BE EFFECTIVE. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT EACH CENTER WILL HAVE A DIRECTOR, ONE OR TWO PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND A SECRETARY-RECEPTIONIST. EACH CENTER WILL HAVE A BOARD CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY BEING SERVED AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IN CENTER OPERATION, STANDARD PROCEDURES WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS OR DISPUTES AND ASSIGN THEM TO A PARAPROFESSIONAL. MEDIATION IS TO BE LIMITED TO MATTERS RELATING TO CRIMINAL AND CIVIL NEIGHBORHOOD, FAMILY, HOUSING, AND CONSUMER PROBLEMS. CENTERS ARE TO DEVELOP FOLLOWUP PROGRAMS FOR CASES HANDLED. AN EVALUATION COMPONENT IS CRITICAL IN CENTER OPERATION. (DEP)