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Victim Offender Mediation Program
Community Justice for Victims and Offenders
Victim-Offender Mediation Purpose
Supplement the work of half time staff person in preparing for, conducting, and completing paperwork on Victim Offender Mediation cases. In this position, the volunteer will be trained to work as a mediator. The goal of these mediation sessions is to help the victim feel whole and restored after the violation of law against them, and to help the offender except responsibility for their actions and for them to be restored to the community and into a positive renewed relationship with the victim of their offense.
Volunteer Duties
In this position, the volunteer will be required to receive 24 initial hours of training on how to conduct Victim Offender Mediation sessions. After completing the required training, some internship or shadowing time would be required, after which you would be given cases to complete on your own, though under supervision. Annual refresher and additional training will also be required. A coordinator would be the person you would report to and through whom you would receive your case. There would be opportunities to meet with offenders and victims in separate interviews in addition to the group mediation sessions. Requirements of some paperwork and completion of some chronological case notes would also be required.
What is a mediator?
A mediator’s role is to be neutral, present only to help others communicate. Mediators do not take sides or make decisions about restitution.
Mediators are skilled in the mediation process. Mediators are respectful. Mediators are good listeners bound by confidentiality rules.
What does a mediator do?
Mediators introduce, facilitate, and assist each victim and offender with the mediation process.
When a case is referred to Victim-Offender Mediation, a mediator will:
- Call to set an appointment to meet with each person separately.
- Clarify the status of the case in the criminal justice system.
- Explain the mediation process.
- Listen to each person tell what happened.
- Ask how each person feels about what happened.
- Make scheduling arrangements for pre-mediation interviews and for the mediation.
- Make sure everyone is treated with respect.
- Insure that both victims and offenders have uninterrupted time to speak.
- Write a contract that both parties agree upon.
- Provide each party and referring agency with a copy of agreement.
- Monitor the agreement through completion.
A mediator helps people in a difficult situation to meet and talk with each other.
Time Commitment
Because we feel strongly that our Victim Offender Mediation program is important to both the victim and the offender, and the fact that there is training involved in this volunteer position, we ask that volunteers provide us with a minimum of a one year commitment.
Requirements
- Complete training as arranged and required (24 hours initial training and yearly additional hours).
- Make a commitment to work with this agency for at least one to one and a half years, and handle at least ten cases per year.
- Be a licensed driver who is available to meet with the Victim Offender clients at various hours of the day and days of the week.
- Possess the ability to work with the two parties to assist them in making their own mutually agreeable decisions and contracts.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Submit to a background and criminal history check prior to training.
Benefits
- Experience in the field of corrections.
- Opportunity to interact with persons in other jobs in the correction’s continuum.
- Experience the resolution and healing of the participants.
- Opportunity to gain experience making contact with various community agencies and individuals.
- Opportunity to learn about local corrections practices, procedures, problems and finding solutions.
- Training opportunities with reimbursement for expenses.
Victim-Offender Mediation is Restorative Justice at work.
As victims hold offenders accountable and offenders take responsibility for their actions, they both begin the healing that needs to happen.
Cases Appropriate for Mediation
Property offenses such as vandalism, theft, burglary, damage to property or possession of stolen property. In addition, offenses such as disorderly conduct, check forgery, theft by check, and certain cases of assault and drug related offenses may also be considered for mediation.
Offenses involving domestic assault and criminal sexual conduct will not be accepted for mediation.
Everyone benefits when Victim Offender Mediation Works!
VICTIMS begin to feel understood and experience satisfaction in getting their questions answered and being involved in planning compensation for their losses.
OFFENDERS face the real costs of their crimes and the impact on victims, and begin to take responsibility for their actions.
THE COURT has a community alternative available for dealing with offenders.
THE COMMUNITY benefits as conflicts are resolved and skills in conflict resolution are expanded.
Michele Schroeder
Probation Agent
Blue Earth County Community Corrections
410 Jackson Street Suite 150
Mankato MN 56002-3543
Office Phone: 507-304-4554
Email: Michele.schroeder@co.blue-earth.mn.us
