NCJ Number
105830
Date Published
1986
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the Hennepin County (Minneapolis, Minn.) Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP), presents preliminary data, and identifies some implementation and evaluation issues.
Abstract
The VORP, which received its first referrals in February 1984, has been limited to victims and juvenile offenders involved in burglaries. The program aims at facilitating a voluntary, mutually acceptable restitution agreement between the victim and offender. Case managers meet with the juvenile offenders and their parents before contacting the victim. If after having the program explained, both offender and victim agree to participate, a meeting is arranged in which the case manager serves as the neutral facilitator of a restitution agreement. Of the 43 juveniles referred to the project by the end of October 1985, 33 agreed to participate. Eighteen of the victims agreed to participate. All but one meeting resulted in a victim-offender agreement that involved either monetary restitution, personal service to the victim, or community service. The program is being evaluated according to victim-offender participation, offender restoration of losses in a manner acceptable to victims, and victim and offender perceptions that procedures and outcomes were fair. Although the data base is small, preliminary data indicate that an urban VORP involving juvenile offenders can be effective. 15 references.