Restorative Justice Through Mediation: The Impact of Programs in Four Canadian Provinces (Restorative Justice: International Perspectives, P 373-385, 1996, Burt Galaway and Joe Hudson, eds. -- See NCJ-172607)

• NCJ Number: 172627
• Author(s): M S Umbreit
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Evaluation data were collected from four Canadian victim- offender mediation programs, two serving primarily adult offenders and their victims and two serving primarily juvenile offenders and their victims.

Abstract

Post-program interviews were held with victims and offenders as well as with a comparison group of victims and offenders, who were referred to the programs but chose not to participate; mediation sessions were observed and interviews were conducted with criminal justice officials. From 1991 through 1993, 4,445 offenders were referred to the programs, the majority of whom were adults. Thirty-nine percent of the referrals resulted in a face-to-face meeting with the victim, and when mediation occurred, 93 percent resulted in an agreement. Both victims and offenders who participated in mediation were significantly more likely to be satisfied (78 percent for victims and 74 percent for offenders) than those who were referred but did not participate. Ninety percent of both victims and offenders reported satisfaction with the terms of the mediated agreement. Eighty percent of both victims and offenders who participated in mediation reported that they had been treated fairly by the justice system. There was a significant difference between this group and those who did not participate in mediation. Victims who participated in mediation were significantly more likely than nonparticipants to report that mediation was important for them to receive answers to questions from the offender, to tell the offender the impact the event had on them, to receive an apology from the offender, and to receive restitution from the offender. Offenders who participated in mediation were more likely than nonparticipants to report that it was important for them to tell the victim about what had happened, to be able to apologize to the victim, and to negotiate a restitution agreement with the victim. Victims who participated in mediation were significantly less likely than nonparticipants to report fear of subsequently being revictimized by the same offender. The findings from this study are similar to earlier reported findings from an American study that used the same methodology and data elements. 10 tables and 19 references