People are changing their opinions about each other. Fear and suspicion is replaced by acknowledgment of each other and recognition of each others' feelings. Offenders are meeting their victims face to face and are being responsible for their actions. There is a relief but also pride that they have done this on their own without a parent or lawyer speaking for them. Victims are invited into the justice system and have an opportunity to tell their story directly to the offender and receive payment for their losses.
Parents see their children face responsibility.
Volunteers have the opportunity to make their community a safer place. Since September 1995 the Clackamas County Juvenile Department's Victim Offender Mediation Program has conducted numerous mediations with very positive results. A summary of some of those results are outlined below. There are currently twelve volunteers from the community who help with the program by mediating cases. They will be trained to do victim offender mediation.