Lubbock County's mandatory referral process began in 1989, and has proven successful in reducing the number of divorce cases heard by the courts. Hockley County refers all divorce cases prior to a temporary or final hearing. The ADR system mediates court referrals involving Children's Protective Services in Planning Region Two. Other referrals are also made by various Justice of the Peaces in the South Plains area. Participation by either party is voluntary.
Individuals involved in an alleged crime voluntarily participate in mediation.
This program has existed since l989. A similar program was begun in 1994 for juvenile first-time offenders. Texas Tech University and SPAG have created a partnership that enables disputes to be mediated by neutral third parties from the Dispute Resolution Center. This innovative program is cost effective and provides impartiality and confidentiality for the participants. Through contracts and agreements with governmental agencies various types of disputes are facilitated, mediated, arbitrated or evaluated.