Dialogue with Offenders Produces Potential Value to Victims

Source: (2000) VOMA Connections. Autumn 2000, number 7:1,10-11.

This article consists of an interview conducted by Phyllis Turner-Lawrence with Marlene Young, Executive Director of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). In response to a variety of questions, Marlene Young reflects on topics related to victims of crime and restorative justice from a victim advocacy point of view. These include the following: the evolution of victim-offender dialogue and conferencing and the restorative justice movement; the effects of victim-offender dialogue and conferencing on offenders; the issue of the orientation of restorative justice toward victim and offender; training for victim-sensitive facilitation skills; and the role of victim assistance providers in victim-offender encounters.