NCJ Number
145077
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1993) Pages: 117-133
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The Elkhart, Indiana, Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) is the oldest of its kind in the U.S.
Abstract
Cases are referred to the VORP by the court and probation department, and occasionally from other criminal justice officials including the county prosecutor. The main aspect of the program is a face-to-face meeting between offender and victim, attended by a mediator, at which the parties discuss the facts of the case, negotiate restitution, and sign a contract regarding amount and payment of the restitution. Data were collected on 42 juveniles and 28 adults who participated in the VORP during a 1-year period. Ninety-seven percent of the juveniles and 78 percent of the adults successfully completed their restitution contracts. One juvenile and six adults committed recidivist offenses during their participation in the program, while another eight juveniles and five adults recidivated after exiting the program. A correlation analysis found significant relationships between successful completion of the restitution contract and several independent variables, including years of education of the offender, number of days in restitution, restitution amount paid, community work hours completed, education of the mediator, and prior training and years of experience of the mediator. 6 tables and 10 references