(a) The general assembly finds and declares that:

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 16-20-101

  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The resolution of felony, misdemeanor and juvenile delinquent disputes can be costly and complex in a judicial setting where the parties involved are necessarily in an adversarial posture and subject to formalized procedures; and
(2) Victim-offender mediation centers can meet the needs of the state‘s citizens by providing forums in which persons may voluntarily participate in the resolution of disputes in an informal and less adversarial atmosphere.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that programs established pursuant to this chapter:

(1) Stimulate the establishment and use of victim-offender mediation centers to help meet the need for alternatives to the courts for the resolution of certain disputes;
(2) Encourage continuing community participation in the development, administration and oversight of local programs designed to facilitate the informal resolution of disputes between and among members of the community;
(3) Offer structures for dispute resolution that may serve as models for centers in other communities; and
(4) Serve a specific community or locale and resolve disputes that arise within that community or locale.