Mid Shore Community Mediation Center’s efforts on behalf of prison inmates released back into the community will benefit from donations to the United Fund of Talbot County’s 2010-2011 campaign.

As one of only five community mediation centers across the state working with Community Mediation Maryland on re-entry mediation, Mid Shore Mediation’s volunteers are helping to pioneer a program aimed at reducing recidivism through mediation.

Mediation Center Executive Director Peter Taillie said that the first 24 hours after a prisoner is released are most critical. “The decisions that are made when an inmate first re-enters the community can determine whether that individual becomes a productive member of society or ends up returning to prison,” he explained.

Mediation while the inmate is still in prison can smooth the way toward better relations with the family members who will be important to the individual’s outside support system, and help focus the inmate on appropriate educational and job opportunities.

While still incarcerated, inmates at the Talbot County Detention Center are offered an opportunity to participate in mediation with family members and friends. Issues brought up in the confidential mediation process can involve a wide range of emotionally charged topics that may or may not be related to the actual criminal activity that led to the imprisonment.

Reconciling with angry or distant family members may allow for a more stable home environment to which the inmate can go upon release. Inmates with children can work out parenting plans with their child’s other parent to reunite the family more successfully or reintroduce the parent to the child’s life.

Mediation can also help inmates make responsible decisions on associating with the friends who may be able to support their success, rather than those who might undermine it.

Mid Shore Community Mediation Center’s AmeriCorps volunteer, Alwinta Lake, is working with Talbot County Department of Correction’s Captain Leone Tillman to bring the re-entry mediation services to the county detention center inmates, thanks to the United Fund support.

The Center’s volunteer mediators go through tailored training by Community Mediation Maryland to learn the skills necessary for this mediation specialty.

Taillie thanked the United Fund of Talbot County and the community for supporting the Mediation Center’s re-entry services. “Through the United Fund’s help,” he said, “not only are we resolving conflicts peacefully within the community, but can also be a part of helping to keep further conflicts from occurring.”

For more information on mediation, to make a contribution, or to volunteer as a mediator, call Mid Shore Community Mediation Center at 410-820-5553 or visit www.midshoremediation.org.