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Impact of Victim-Offender Mediation on the Victim

NCJ Number
101196
Journal
Victimology Volume: 10 Issue: 1-4 Dated: (1985) Pages: 631-644
Author(s)
M Wright
Date Published
1985
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The criminal justice process has been widely criticized for leaving out victims. One response has been to involve them in victim/offender mediation, with a view to reparation and reconciliation.
Abstract
This raises new issues, and the paper reports views on some of these from an exploratory survey of staff and others associated with mediation projects in the United States and Canada. Among the questions considered were the attitude to reparation, the rights and duties of the State as against the victim, and fairness to victims and offenders. The emotional needs of victims of serious crimes were raised, as well as the need to hold offenders accountable. Future possibilities and problems of mediation are also reviewed. (Author abstract)