Search results

Forgiveness is a profound, life-changing experience for many people who have been hurt by others. But forgiveness is paradoxical in that if one relies on forgiveness language or if others prescribe it as an expectation, the depth of that experience can be significantly compromised. By the same token, many people experience deep forgiveness without ever using the language of forgiveness. Most of the stories in this book testify to how forgiveness is experienced primarily as an inner unburdening of negative emotions, a process that is aided by safe, facilitated dialogue with the offending party

Four victim-offender mediation programs in Canada were evaluated. Victims and offenders who participated in mediation were significantly more likely to be satisfied than similar victims and offenders who were referred to mediation but did not participate. Victims of crime were less fearful of being revictimized by the offender after participating in a mediation than those victims in the comparison group. Broader use of this emerging area of social work practice in North America and Europe should be considered, along with more rigorous studies.

AbstractBuilding on the rich experience of mediators in many fields who have periodically experienced the process to be far more than just developing a settlement, a humanistic model of mediation is presented. The model allows practitioners to more intentionally and consistently tap into the intrinsic transformative and healing potential of mediation. The dominant Western "settlement‐driven" model of problem‐solving mediation is contrasted with the "dialogue‐driven" humanistic approach and its nondirective style of mediation, which routinely involves the mediator meeting separately one or more times with parties in conflict prior to the mediation session. Specific elements of the model are presented, as well as the paradigm of healing on which it is based. Drawing on the wisdom of numerous indigenous traditions of peacemaking and the experience of many mediators in family, community, workplace, and victim‐offender mediation settings, humanistic mediation practice offers a genuine transformative journey of peacemaking that is grounded in compassion, strength, and our common humanity.

AbstractVictim‐offender mediation is no longer simply an experiment but is now established as an important and growing subfield of alternative dispute resolution. Research suggests high levels of client satisfaction and perceptions of fairness with both the process and outcome of mediated victim‐offender conflict. This article examines the extensive development and impact of the field in the United States, describing its historical roots as well as its rationales and program models. Similarities and differences with more common applications of mediation are identified, along with key research findings.

Social workers are playing an increasingly active role in the emerging field of mediation. This article presents the findings of an evaluation of a victim offender mediation program. The study is based on a quasi-experimental design involving 516 interviews with 441 crime victims and juvenile offenders, including pre- and postmediation interviews and involving two comparison groups. The vast majority of victims and offenders experienced the mediation process and outcome (restitution agreement) as fair and were satisfied with the program. Significantly greater victim satisfaction and perception of fairness, as well as higher restitution completion rates by offenders, were found

The process of allowing certain victims of crime to confront their juvenile offender in the presence of a trained mediator to both talkabout the event andnegotiate aplan for compensating the victim is developing in a growing number of communities throughout the United States. This article reports on the impact of the victim offender mediation program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is based on interviews with 206 victims and juvenile offenders in Albuquerque, as well as interviews with court officials andprogram stas This program represenisa strong court and community partnership. victims and offenders whoparticipated in mediation indicated high levels of satisfaction with both the processand outcomes of mediation. Wctims who were involved in mediation, particularly, were considerably more likely to indicate satisfaction with the manner in which the juvenile justice system handled their case than were those victims who were referred to mediation but did nut participate or similar victims who were never even referred to the mediation program. Offenders who negotiated their restitution obligation with the victim were far more likely to actually complete restitution, when compared to offenders whose restitution was ordered by the court with no mediation program involvement.

AbstractAn extensive survey of victim‐offender mediation programs in the United States was initiated by the Center for Restorative Justice and Mediation, University of Minnesota, School of Social Work, in 1996. Far more programs were found, at various stages of development, than had previously been identified (Hughes and Schneider, 1989; Umbreit, 1994, 1995a; Umbreit and Niemeyer, 1996). This article first briefly reviews the international growth of the victim‐offender mediation field. It then reports on the quantitative findings that emerged from the national survey of programs in the United States and on a number of themes that emerged from open‐ended questions and conversations with the staff from the 116 programs (out of a total of 289 programs identified) that participated in an interview.

Written by Mark Umbreit, internationally known for his work in restorative justice, this indispensable resource offers an empirically grounded, state-of-the-art analysis of the application and impact of victim offender mediation, a movement that has spread throughout North America and abroad. The Handbook of Victim Offender Mediation provides practical guidance and resources for offering victim meditation in property crimes, in minor assaults, and, more recently, with crimes of severe violence, including with family members of murder victims who request to meet the offender

"[A]n evidence-based description of the history, practices, and future of restorative dialogue that is informed by the values and principles of law, social work, and spirituality. This is an impressive achievement.". --Daniel W. Van Ness Prison Fellowship International, Washington, DC. "I know of no other book that provides such a complete review of the various and emerging restorative practices and the phenomenal growth of this movement worldwide.". --David Karp , PhDSkidmore College. "The combination of two outstanding and widely recognized restorative justice resear

Objective: This article reports the results of a meta-analytic study of the relationship between participation in victim-offender mediation (VOM) and the prevalence of subsequent delinquent behavior. Method: Analyses were conducted with the results of 15 studies, conducted at 19 different sites, with a sample of 9,307 juveniles. Results: The results suggested that methodological factors explained all the significant variation across sites and studies in the magnitude of the difference between non-VOM and VOM groups in their reoffense prevalence. The odds of VOM participants were only about .70 as great as the odds of nonparticipants reoffending. Conclusion: The results support the efforts of social workers to advocate for, develop, and participate in VOM programs.