In 1981, there were more than 15,000 walk-in citizen complaints that had to be reviewed by Cleveland city prosecutors; these complaints were in addition to 35,000 misdemeanors and more than 7,000 felonies. Many of these minor disputes entered the already clogged court dockets, some to be later dropped for lack or evidence or because the complaining witness backed out. For the police and courts, these disputes were a waste of time and money. The cost of mediation, in contrast, is practically nil. Columbus, which runs the country's premier program, spends about $10 per person in mediation, compared to $100 to $500 per person in the courts. Mediation is also free to the citizens who use it and is scheduled within 10 days of the complaint, as opposed to 50 days for a court date. Additionally, mediation treats causes rather than symptoms; it is based on compromise and negotiation, on the elicitation of solutions from both parties. Thus, mediation is a practical alternative to courtroom settlements of minor grievances. Three illustrations are included.