Preliminary Study of Victim Offender Mediation and Reparation Schemes in England and Wales

• NCJ Number: 117980
• Author(s): G Davis; J Boucherat; D Watson
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 88 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Research and Planning Unit Paper 42.

Annotation

Based on information obtained from victim/offender mediation and reparation schemes in England and Wales between October 1985 and September 1986, this report covers their operation, objectives and their modifications over time, and practitioners' views of the programs.

Abstract

Information was solicited through questionnaires (41 sent out and 33 returned) and site visits to 17 programs. An examination of the programs' relationships to the court found three types: mediation attempted before the hearing, mediation attempted on adjournment, and postsentence programs. A review of criteria for selecting cases for mediation or reparation examines age range, offender attitude, victims' vulnerability, offense seriousness, personal or corporate victims, and prior personal relationship between the victim and offender. Other topics addressed are problems of program implementation, goals and outcomes, victim service to offenders, the escalation of punitiveness based on offender performance, and voluntariness. Two additional topics briefly considered are victim/offender groups, and neighborhood dispute centers. 29 references, questionnaire, list of schemes contacted.