“Victim-Offender Mediation: What Social & Political Factors Will Affect its Development?”

Source: (1996) Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution. 11(1):207-225.

Victim-offender mediation is a viable alternative to the traditional criminal justice system in the United States. In the appropriate setting it provides benefits for the victim, the offender, the judicial system, and the community. The first section of this Note will provide a background on victim offender mediation. It will describe the process of victim-offender mediation, its values, and its effects on teh participants and the community. The second section will discuss several social and political factors that will influence the future success and continuity of victim-offender mediation programs. The third section offers suggestions that proponents can implement in order to ensure the future success of victim-offender mediation programs. excerpt)