Victim Offender Mediation Summary

Wood evaluated the roles of victims in restorative justice. He analyzed a program created in 1999 called the Victim Offender Mediation (VOM). This program was designed as an interview with the victims, the criminal, and a mediator. These face to face interviews were intended to create an agreement for the punishment. It gives victims a role in decision making. The primary purpose is to investigate stakeholder’s involvement for victims. Additionally, to see what victims are recognized as a stakeholder. Another purpose was to show how the courts change the victim’s roles as stakeholders. This program was planned to provide a service to victims. Furthermore, Woods discusses how restorative justice changes literature in the late 1900’s. The study started in late 1999 and analyzed juvenile courts over five years. Victims, stakeholders, and criminals are the three of the main participants. However, court administrators, four court managers, several probation staff, the Restorative Community Service Coordinator, two mediation and victim staff members, and others participated as well.

Wood does not specify the gender or age of the participants. The study took place in the state of Washington and Vancouver, Canada. According to Woods, his evaluation consisted

The courtrooms did not allow the use of electronic recording devices; therefore, data was obtained through note taking. The first year VOM was used in 2000, 85 victim-offender mediations were conducted out of a total of 1,140 cases. The 85 VOMs were 48% of the 176 victim referrals. Each year victim referrals increased significantly. In 2000, Victim referrals started with 176 and ended with 1,149 referrals. On the other hand, the VOMs decreased considerably. The VOMs started with 85 and by 2005 ended with 28. In 2004, probation and felonies started integrating into the Victim Impact