Victim-Offender Mediation

Victim-offender mediation (VOM) programs assist with justice administration outcomes, as the crucial element of the victim has been overlooked in traditional criminal justice goals of retribution and punishment. These programs are operated by churches, private companies, victims’ service agencies, and government departments (e.g., probation departments). The VOM process requires agreement between two disputing parties to engage a nonpartisan third party as intercessor to resolve the issue. Mediation has legal and ethical consequences and can be beneficial to victims, offenders, and community members. While VOMs are useful for managing juvenile reform and restorative justice goals, critical scholars caution their use in domestic violence incidents as a battered woman’s safety may be in jeopardy. According to the Victim Offender Mediation Association, there are nearly 1,500 VOM programs ...