VICTIM OFFENDER
MEDIATION PROJECT
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Pictures of Project Images, Training, the National
Restorative Justice Celebration and the AG's Victim Rights Conference!
What
is Victim Offender Mediation?
Victim
offender mediation is an alternative approach to the traditional juvenile
justice system. Juveniles charged with minor offenses are held accountable
and the victim is empowered
by becoming part of the solution. A mediator contacts the victim and
request the victim’s voluntary participation. A face-to-face meeting then
takes place
between the victim and the offender. The victim and
offender negotiate an agreement that could include restitution, community service, and
other means to repairing the harm to the victim by the offender
for the damage caused by the offender.
What
is the Process?
The Victim Offender Mediation Project (VOMP) obtains a referral
from the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office. The VOMP will then
contact the parties involved as an intake/preview process. A mediator will
be assigned after intake and the parties will be contacted regarding an
initial conference.
At the initial conference the victim is offered the opportunity to
seek answers and tell the offender how the criminal behavior has affected
the victim. During this meeting the offender has the opportunity to
discuss his or her own views about the crime.
The victim and the offender then work toward an agreement to
redress the grievances caused by the offender’s criminal conduct. The
agreement may require restitution, work performance, community service
performance or participating in a third party counseling program.
The successful implementation and completion of the agreement will help to bring closure for all parties. The VOMP will report to the District Attorney’s office, which then will complete the process.
What is the School Mediation Project?
The
School Mediation Project is a restorative justice initiative that serves as
a prevention and conflict resolution model for the schools of Shawnee
County.
The Project has been conducting a pilot project involving several different
restorative justice conferencing circles at Robinson Middle School. One
circle is called the "Expect Respect" circle and is for
students who have been referred by staff for bullying behavior. A second
circle is the "Peacekeepers" circle and is for victims of
the bullying behavior. A third circle is the "Winners"
circle which is designed to reward those referred students who meet the
objectives of their mediation agreements. A final circle is the "Solutions"
circle which is a re-integration model designed to bring together those
students who have been disciplined for fighting, stealing, etc., to mediate
their disputes. It more closely resembles a traditional victim-offender
mediation. The Project has also provided a "re-integration" mediation
for those students who are coming off suspension for fighting prior to
being
What is the Parent-Adolescent Mediation Project?
Parent-adolescent mediation is a facilitated problem solving strategy that helps families in conflict. Trained mediators, who have no stake in the outcome, assist parents and their teens in understanding each others point of view. The model utilizes the following methods:
equalization of power; reduction of conflict
exploration of interests; help in living together peacefully
decisions are made by teens and parents; enhancement of family functioning
everyday issues of conflict are addressed (i.e. friends, curfew, dress style, school, music, partying etc)
agreements are practical and balanced; modeling of how to solve future conflict
helps to prevent family violence, delinquency, displacement
Why Mediation?
Mediation provides a victim rights intervention that humanizes the criminal justice system. As a result of mediation agreements offenders are held accountable without the high human and economic costs currently experienced with traditional juvenile justice systems. VOM increases the community’s understanding and ownership of the criminal justice process as a result of victim and volunteer involvement.
Benefits of Mediation
The victim and the offender decide upon
the agreement outcome.
Mediation can be quicker and cost less than
court.
Mediation can help to preserve and improve
relationships.
Mediation could include other parties.
Mediation helps define the issues.
Mediation sees restitution as a means to furthering the justice process.
Mediation
brings the community together.
Restorative Justice
Involves victims, offenders, and the
community in the process of justice.
Believes the needs of the crime
victim are sometimes unmet by the court system.
Pushes offenders to take
responsibility for their actions in a concrete way.
Feels that the community plays an
important role in just outcomes after an offense has occurred.
Click
here to view the distinctions between Restorative and Retributive
Justice.
Who Makes the Decision?
The greatest benefit of mediation is that the victim and offender make the decision. This way, the parties are not left with a decision imposed upon them by someone unfamiliar with their situation. The mediator is there to guide the parties in reaching their decision by encouraging good communication, defining issues and helping with possible solutions.
For Information Contact:
Kent Reed
Victim Offender Mediation Project Coordinator
1248 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS 66604
(785)232-4144 ~ Fax: (785)232-4145
Email: vomtcpj@yahoo.com
The VOMP is a project of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.