The mediator has the responsibility to ensure that all parties are treated respectfully, given ample opportunity to ask questions, share information and create a resolution to the crime that addresses their own needs. Background The Victim Offender Mediation Program is an initiative of the Clark County Juvenile Court and the City of Vancouver s Community Mediation. It is one of several Restorative Justice programs that focus on enhancing the commitment of the City and County to addressing crime effectively in the community. Victim Offender Mediation programs have been working in North America for the past 25 years. Because of the flexibility and effectiveness of these programs, they can now be found worldwide and in increasing numbers of U.S. communities.
Officers can recommend cases for referral.
A separate information meeting is held with the victim to make certain mediation can be useful for him or her. If both the victim and offender agree to mediate, the mediator arranges a location, date and time. Every effort is made to make this session convenient for the participants. The victim and offender are given the opportunity to discuss what happened, why it happened and how it has impacted their lives. There is an opportunity to respond to each other and to ask important questions.