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“Mediating the Victim-Offender Conflict.”

Zehr, Howard
June 4, 2015

Source: (1980) New Perspectives on Crime and Justice (Issue #2). Akron, PA: Mennonite Central Committee Office of Criminal Justice, September, 30p.

The Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) in Elkhart, Indiana, has been functioning for several years as a subdivision of Elkhart County Prisoner and Community Together (PACT). VORP is a specialized mechanism for conflict resolution that focuses on the conflict between victim and offender. The VORP process is based on a face-to-face meeting between victim(s) and offender(s). In the meeting, facts and feelings are explored and agreements concerning restitution are worked out. VORP emphasizes basic interpersonal skills for its volunteers rather than highly specialized mediation techniques. It draws upon a wide range of members of the community and church to manage the meetings. The VORP process can be applied to almost any kind of case and has been used successfully with both juveniles and adults. Revised 1982, 1986, 1990 editions.

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