Victim offender mediation is a process which provides interested victims of primarily property crimes the opportunity to meet the offender, in a safe and structured setting, with the goal of holding the offender directly accountable for their behavior while providing important assistance and compensation to the victim. With the assistance of a trained mediator, the victim is able to let the offender know how the crime affected him or her, to receive answers to questions they may have, and to be directly involved in developing a restitution plan for the offender to be accountable for the losses they incurred. In some programs, cases are primarily referred to victim offender mediation as a diversion from prosecution, assuming the agreement is successfully completed.
Some programs receive case referrals at both the diversion and post-adjudication level.
Most cases are referred by officials involved in the juvenile justice system, although some programs also receive referrals from the adult criminal justice system. Judges, probation officers, victim advocates, prosecutors, defense attorneys, or police can make referrals to victim offender mediation programs. Mediation is being used in an increasing number of conflict situations, such as divorce and custody, community disputes, commercial disputes, and other civil court related conflicts. Often, mediation in these setting is focused heavily upon reaching a settlement, with a lesser emphasis upon a discussion of the full impact of the conflict upon their lives. One has clearly committed a criminal offense and has admitted doing so.