Multi-Door Courthouse Project (Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Centers) of the American Bar Association Special Committe on Dispute Resolution, Phase I - Intake and Referral Assessment

The sites selected for the test are Tulsa, Okla.; Houston, Tex.; and the District of Columbia. Phase I has used trained intake counselors to interview citizens with disputes, diagnose the problems, and refer the citizen to the most appropriate existing dispute resolution mechanism. Beginning in 1983, Phase I operated for 18 months in the three sites, and research assessed the effectiveness of the matching of disputes to dispute resolution forums. The research documented caseloads and procedures, tracked cases from intake to final disposition, interviewed disputants after disposition, and surveyed citizens to determine their awareness of the program. Findings indicate which types of disputes were channeled to particular dispute resolution mechanisms and identify weaknesses in the options of existing dispute settlement mechanisms. The majority of citizens using the intake centers were satisfied with the intake process and would return to the center with a dispute in the future. 13 references.