Transcript Mediation
Victim-Offender Mediation Impact upon Youth Crime Presented by Betty Noreen, Mediation Advisor North Star Youth Mediation Program (907) 457-6797, fax (907) 457-6791 [email protected] www.mosquitonet.com/~nsyc/NSYMP/ Agenda Victim-Offender Mediation Based on Restorative Justice Principles Characteristics and Benefits Stages Effect of VOM on Juvenile Offender Recidivism North Star Youth Mediation Program Questions and Comments Victim-Offender Mediation is Based upon Restorative Justice Principles: Offense is against people/community All parties are affected They take an active role in restoration Offenders are held directly accountable Repairs emotional and material harm Restores losses Restorative Justice Questions: 1. What is the harm? 2. What needs to be done to repair the harm? 3. Who is responsible for the repair? VOM Characteristics and Benefits Collaborative, not adversarial Empowers Victims Holds Offender accountable Guilt/Innocence is not an issue Victim’s questions are answered Promotes mutual understanding Develops mutually acceptable restitution plans Provides closure for both victim and offender VOM Stages Referral and Screening Pre-Mediation Meetings Mediation Follow Up Review Closure The Effect of Victim Offender Mediation on Juvenile Offender Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis by Bradshaw, Roseborough & Umbreit Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Vo. 24, No. 1, Fall 2006 “This article reports the results of a meta-analysis of the effects of victim offender mediation (VOM) on juvenile recidivism. Analyses were conducted on fifteen studies consisting of 9,172 juveniles in twentyone service sites in the United States. Participation in VOM accounted for a 34 percent reduction in juvenile recidivism.” North Star Youth Mediation Program A program of North Star Youth Court in Fairbanks, Alaska Began in 2001 with Victim-Offender Mediation and Peer Mediation Parent-Teen Mediation added in 2005 Program Characteristics: Non-Profit Organization, $25 referral fee Co-facilitated by youth and adult mediators Provides basic and parent-teen mediation training Utilizes volunteer adult mediators Monthly Youth Mediator Corps meetings Develops youth leadership and competency Promotes community awareness of alternative conflict resolution and restorative justice options Program Goals: To model good communication and conflict resolution skills with courtesy and respect. To demonstrate that conflict exists universally and can have positive outcomes. To teach the critical life-skill of how to resolve further conflict constructively. To identify and focus on the underlying needs expressed in actions or positions. To gain an understanding and appreciation of our differences and to identify similarities. To learn something new about the other person and develop empathy and closeness. To come to mutual agreement on how to resolve a conflict or repair a harm. Potential Referral Sources Victim-Offender Mediation Youth Court Sentencing Option Juvenile Probation Officers Superior Court Juvenile Disposition Alaska State Troopers/Police Officers Peer Mediation Schools & Youth Programs Resource Agencies Private Individuals Parent-Teen Mediation Children and Family Service Agencies Private Individuals Questions????