• The Impact of Incarceration on Children, Families and Communities was recognized in Cecil County as the second priority area of the Governor’s new initiatives. 
• Surveys from the Cecil County Detention Center indicate that 145 out of 267 inmates surveyed have children under the age of 18. 
• Eighty-five percent (85%) of those parents have between 1-3 children, and 54 % of the inmates indicate they intend to live in the same household with their minor children upon release.
• No program offers mediation to inmates and their famililes before or after reentry

• Cecil County Detention Center
• Cecil County Sheriff's Office
• Cecil County LMB

• During the reporting period no mediations occured however, we know that:
• Recidivism rates for those who mediate decline from 1 in 3 reoffending (31 % ) to 1 in 5 reoffending (21 %). Mediating prior to release will strengthen families by increasing the probability that the one parent will not reoffend and re-enter incarceration.

• 80% of those going to mediation agree they are more likely to not use violence to resolve their conflict and they would try to think things through before responding.

• The probability of arrest is reduced by 13 % for those who mediated compared to those who did not. The number of sessions is also a significant factor - with each additional mediation session, the probability of arrest is reduced by 8%.

• The probability of conviction is reduced by 15%, for those who mediated compared to those who did not. With each additional mediation session, the probability of conviction is reduced by 9%

Performance in 2018 did not meet expectations.  An agreement with the Detention Center was executed in Spring of 2018 to iron out staffing/security and procedural issues. 

Data is collected from this program monthly.  Where appropriate, measures are reported on each month, at the mid-year point or annually.  Tools include intake forms

Telephone survey