NCJ Number
192555
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 29-35
Editor(s)
Ellen Wilson Fielding
Date Published
December 2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article provides a brief overview of studies developed to assess the growth, implementation, and impact of victim-offender mediation, as well as review the impact and consequences of victim-offender mediation over the past 20 years.
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, there have been numerous undertakings to empirically evaluate and assess the working of victim-offender mediation (VOM) programs in a variety of settings. This article offers a brief overview of these research efforts and their attempt to assess the growth, implementation, and impact of VOM. It is based on a review of 38 evaluation reports that have taken place in 14 States and the District of Columbia, four Canadian provinces, England, Scotland, and New Zealand. In addition, the article considers the consequences of VOM over the past 20 years that include: (1) client satisfaction; (2) client perception of fairness; (3) restitution; (4) diversion; (5) recidivism; (6) costs; and (7) VOM and crimes of violence. Due to extensive examination of the impact of VOM the following can be said: (1) there are very high levels of satisfaction by those victims or offenders participating with the program and the criminal justice system; (2) participants typically view the program as fair; (3) restitution makes up most agreements, with a rate of 8 out of 10 agreements completed; (4) VOM can be both an effective juvenile offender diversion tool and a way to increase social control; (5) VOM is effective in reducing recidivism; (6) VOM offers promise in the ability to reduce and contain costs; and (7) promising research results indicate the potential to adopt VOM for offenders involved in violent crime. VOM is regarded as an effective means for holding offenders accountable for their actions. References