The Hartford Area Mediation Program (HAMP), which was founded in 1984 as a pro bono project of the Aetna Law Department, began operating as a program of the Community Partners In Action in November 1993. Funding for the program comes from the Court Support Services Division.

HAMP offers community mediation services to residents of Hartford and the surrounding area. Community mediation is a process of dispute resolution in which a panel of trained mediators intervenes in a conflict with the consent of the disputants and assists them in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. The goal is to reach a settlement that both sides feel they can live with, one that is realistic, and one that is viewed as fair by all the parties involved.

In mediation, the decision-making authority rests with the disputants themselves. The role of the mediators involves helping the disputants in defining and clarifying issues, reducing obstacles to communication, exploring possible outcomes, and reaching a consensual agreement.

Community mediation is designed to preserve individual interests while strengthening relationships and building connections between people. The benefits of mediation, however, extend beyond the immediate interests of the parties in conflict. When the court has the option of referring appropriate cases to mediation, it can more fully devote its attention and resources to those cases that require the formal judicial process.