Healing through victim offender mediation

During the mediation, David learned
that the items he and his friend took were of sentimental value to the
family.  The watch belonged to the homeowner’s grandmother, and neither
it, nor the coin collection, were recovered.    More importantly, David
learned about the fear and  emotional upset his actions caused the
family.  Following the mediation, the victims reported that they felt
better after explaining the full impact of the crime on their lives.
 As partial restitution for his crime, David wrote the following letter
of apology:

“I know that saying sorry will not
bring back any of the items that were taken from your home, nor will it
help your 5 year old son get to sleep at night without having to make
sure that the doors are locked.  Nor will it repair your broken
marriage, and it definitely won’t make your daughter feel any different
about me, but I can’t go back in time and undo what was done, because
believe me I would.  I’m sorry that I did not think about the
consequences of my actions.  I’m sorry that I did not think about the
extent of the hurt that would come to you and your family because of my
actions.  I cannot tell you in words how much it saddens me to know
that a 5 year old boy cannot sleep at night because of what I did, but
I hope that the night-light that I gave him makes a difference, even if
it’s only a little one.  I only wish that I would’ve known the hurt
that I caused before I did what I did.  I never, ever, would have done
it.  In closing I only ask that you somehow can find it in your heart
to forgive me for my actions and for the pain that I caused you and
your family.”

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