Source: (2011) Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue at The University of Texas at Austin.
In a very real sense, DIVO is as much a philosophy as a “program.†Through the
historic work of countless crime victim survivors and their advocates we now have
police-based crime victim liaisons, prosecutor-based victim assistance coordinators,
and corrections-based service providers. It’s time now that the defense community,
whose members serve a core function within the criminal justice system, recognize and
act upon their obligation to the victim survivors whose experiences of harm initiate and
drive the process. The responsibility for treating victim survivors with dignity and
respect falls to every member of the criminal justice system.
This manual will assist you in developing principled Defense-Initiated Victim Outreach in
your state or region. In it you will find material that will assist you in promoting DIVO
among defense attorneys and other key stakeholders including judges, prosecutors and
victim service providers. Agendas and material for training defense attorneys are
included. Finally, this manual will present programmatic ideas for maintaining and
coordinating a DIVO program, overcoming obstacles, maintaining accountability, and
assuring continuity of service. (excerpt)
Your donation helps Prison Fellowship International repair the harm caused by crime by emphasizing accountability, forgiveness, and making amends for prisoners and those affected by their actions. When victims, offenders, and community members meet to decide how to do that, the results are transformational.
Donate Now