Our Mission

NDS originated in 1968 under the sponsorship of the Human Relations Council of Greater Harrisburg – responding to difficulties experienced by African American students at John Harris High School – before transitioning to NDS in 1978. HRC/GH was granted tax exempt status by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1974, and in 1978, HRC/GH began a community mediation service to address increasing violence in the community. Volunteers were trained as mediators and moved to reorganize elements of the HRC/GH as Neighborhood Dispute Settlement of Dauphin County.

In 1993, the City of Harrisburg Police Department instituted a program of referrals to NDS as an alternative to citing individuals. Subsequently, NDS was recognized across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as providing a successful approach to reducing the need for police intervention in community disputes and reducing associated costs. 

In 1995, NDS collaborated with the Dickinson School of Law (DSL) to offer mediation to residents of Cumberland County. By 1998, Neighborhood Dispute Settlement of Dauphin County officially changed its name to Neighborhood Dispute Settlement to reflect its regional service area.

NDS continues to take referrals from police departments and district justices in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties as well as local bar associations, community organizations, legal aid offices, and government agencies.

NDS receives support from local municipalities in the form of grants, which must be applied for and approved annually. The continuing support of Dauphin County, the City of Harrisburg, and many boroughs and townships in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties provides ongoing evidence of the value placed upon  NDS's services by law enforcement, district justices, and the political leadership of these communities.