Victim-Offender MediationImpact upon Youth CrimeVictim-Offender MediationImpact upon Youth Crime

Presented by

Betty Noreen, Mediation AdvisorNorth Star Youth Mediation Program(907) 457-6797, fax (907) 457-6791

nsycmed@mosquitonet.comwww.mosquitonet.com/~nsyc/NSYMP/

Presented by

Betty Noreen, Mediation AdvisorNorth Star Youth Mediation Program(907) 457-6797, fax (907) 457-6791

nsycmed@mosquitonet.comwww.mosquitonet.com/~nsyc/NSYMP/

AgendaAgendaVictim-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 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:Victim-Offender Mediation is Based upon Restorative Justice Principles:

Offense is against people/communityAll parties are affectedThey take an active role in restorationOffenders are held directly accountableRepairs emotional and material harmRestores losses

Offense is against people/communityAll parties are affectedThey take an active role in restorationOffenders are held directly accountableRepairs emotional and material harmRestores losses

Restorative Justice Questions:

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?

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

VOM Characteristics and Benefits

Collaborative, not adversarialEmpowers Victims Holds Offender accountableGuilt/Innocence is not an issueVictim’s questions are answered Promotes mutual understandingDevelops mutually acceptable restitution

plans Provides closure for both victim and offender

Collaborative, not adversarialEmpowers Victims Holds Offender accountableGuilt/Innocence is not an issueVictim’s questions are answered Promotes mutual understandingDevelops mutually acceptable restitution

plans Provides closure for both victim and offender

VOM StagesVOM Stages

Referral and ScreeningPre-Mediation MeetingsMediationFollow UpReview Closure

Referral and ScreeningPre-Mediation MeetingsMediationFollow UpReview Closure

The Effect of Victim Offender Mediation on Juvenile Offender Recidivism: A Meta-

Analysisby Bradshaw, Roseborough & Umbreit

Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Vo. 24, No. 1, Fall 2006

The Effect of Victim Offender Mediation on Juvenile Offender Recidivism: A Meta-

Analysisby 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 twenty-one service sites in the United States. Participation in VOM accounted for a 34 percent reduction in juvenile recidivism.”

“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 twenty-one service sites in the United States. Participation in VOM accounted for a 34 percent reduction in juvenile recidivism.”

North Star Youth Mediation ProgramNorth 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

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: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

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: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.

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 SourcesPotential Referral SourcesVictim-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

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????Questions????