§ Rule 7 Referral

Rule 7. Referral

   A. Each dispute mediation program operating under the authority of the Act and the Oklahoma Rules and Procedures for the Dispute Resolution Act shall develop policies and procedures for accepting and making referrals.

   B. Depending upon the program's purpose or area of concentration, cases may be received from different referral sources such as:

      1. Law enforcement,

      2. District Attorney,

      3. City Attorney,

      4. Legal Aid,

      5. news media,

      6. consumer protection agencies,

      7. judges,

      8. attorneys, and

      9. social service agencies.

   C. If a program encounters disputes which, or parties who, require attention beyond the scope of the services provided by the program, it may make referrals.

   D. Each local court shall establish procedures under which certain cases shall be referred to certified mediation programs. These procedures shall include a method by which a court may grant a continuance in contemplation of a dismissal of the action. The types of disputes which may be referred by the court shall include but not be limited to:

      1. criminal matters such as misdemeanors and non-violent felonies,

      2. civil cases coming under the small claims jurisdictional requirements, as set forth in 12 O.S.Supp.1983, Section 1751,

      3. consumer concerns such as consumer complaints involving goods and services provided by business,

      4. domestic problems such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, visitation, spousal maintenance, and family crisis intervention,

      5. housing disputes such as landlord-tenant and neighbor problems,

      6. employment matters such as compensation, working conditions and termination disputes, and

      7. debtor-creditor negotiations.

   E. A case may be referred to mediation by stipulation of the parties with the approval of the court, or in accordance with the method set forth in Section D. When referred by a court, every action subject to Rule 7D shall be referred to the program coordinator by the court or the clerk of the court within fifteen (15) days according to procedures selected by the program.

   F. Each certified program shall keep records of all referrals by category, source, name and number.