NCJ Number
180960
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2000 Pages: 63-87
Date Published
February 2000
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article presents two case studies that represent the first examination of any capital murder cases involving a mediation/dialogue session between a surviving family member and the death row inmate facing execution shortly after a mediation session.
Abstract
This intervention had a powerful impact on the lives of the five participants (three surviving family members and two offenders). All had been moved beyond their expectations, all were relieved, all reported significant progress on their healing journeys, all were grateful for the opportunity and all identified the same set of components to account for their response: careful, compassionate preparation; gentle and unobtrusive guidance during the session and, above all, the opportunity for genuine, human face-to-face encounter, which increases offender accountability and responsibility. Both practitioners and policymakers should seriously consider cautiously expanding opportunities for such restorative encounters that are initiated and requested by victims of severely violent crime and surviving family members. References