VORP (Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program); Some Central Issues in Mediating the Victim Offender Conflict (From The Future of the Juvenile Justice System, P 347-363, 1991, Josine Junger-Tas and Leonieke Boendermaker, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-133019)

• NCJ Number: 133044
• Author(s): T Trenczek
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: ACCO Tiensestraat 134-136
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Belgium
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. A paper from an international conference on the future of the juvenile justice system, May 29-31, 1989, in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands.

Annotation

This description and assessment of Victim-Offender Reconciliation Programs (VORP) in the United States, Canada, and the Federal Republic of Germany considers VORP's theoretical orientation, practical experience with the program, VORP goals, areas of application, definition of success, and how VORP fits into the criminal justice system.

Abstract

Most VORP programs emphasize reconciliation between offender and victim and use restitution to the victim as symbolic reparation for the harm done. VORP differs from a strictly restitution program in its emphasis upon interaction between the offender and victim to achieve a satisfactory psychological resolution of the conflict. This is done in the presence of a mediator who facilitates constructive interaction between the parties. VORPs are primarily sponsored by community-based, private, nonprofit organizations. VORPs in North America typically use volunteer mediators; whereas, West German VORPs use paid mediators. VORP may be used in every strained relation between two persons, even if the cases involve children and minor incidents; however, VORP is used primarily in the resolution of burglary cases. Success with VORP can be defined as the completion of restitution agreements and the satisfaction of both parties with the process. 48 footnotes and 29 references