Victim-Offender Mediation Program (VOMP)(From National Conference on Juvenile Justice, P 425-436, 1993, Lynn Atkinson and Sally-Anne Gerull, eds. -- See NCJ-148673)

• NCJ Number: 148710
• Author(s): E Kadar
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: From proceedings of the National Conference on Juvenile Justice, held in Adelaide, Australia, September 22-24, 1992.

Annotation

This paper profiles Victoria's (Australia) Victim- Offender Mediation Program (VOMP), which is a demonstration program that diverts admitted juvenile offenders to mediation with their victims.

Abstract

The program targets youth between 10 and 17 years old who have received at least one police caution and face the prospect of being charged. To be selected for the program, a juvenile must admit the offense, and there must be sufficient admissible evidence to establish the offense. The juvenile offender must consent to participate in the program. Victims must also consent to participation in mediation. The victims who consent have the option of face- to-face mediation with the offender or negotiated mediation through the mediator. Victims and offenders can bring a friend or family member to the mediation session. At the mediation session, which is conducted in an informal setting, the two mediators explain their role, the purpose of the session, and the role of the support people. There is then discussion and sharing of facts and feelings about the offense by the victim and then the offender. The second part of the session may focus on a discussion of losses and any agreement reached between the parties that may involve some form of restitution. Mediation outcomes can be an apology by the offender to the victim, the return of stolen property, the repairing of damage caused by the offense, a small monetary payment, or minor chores for the victim that are time-limited. The pilot program has been operating in Frankston for 7 weeks and for 1 week at the Geelong Dispute Settlement Centre. There have been five referrals to date, four of which have not completed the mediation process. The evaluation will address process and outcome, focusing on such issues as net-widening, the voluntariness of the program, proportionality to court dispositions, victim/offender satisfaction with the program, and attitude change. The authors recommend that, in conjunction with victim-offender mediation/reconciliation programs, there must also be adequate support systems for crime victims and young offenders. 8 references