NCJ Number
118335
Date Published
1989
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Evidence indicates that the Victims and Offenders in Conciliation (VOIC) program in the Medway towns, Kent, (England), which brings together victims and offenders not involved in the same offense, can promote positive attitude change and increased insight among participants.
Abstract
VOIC gives burglary victims the option to meet young offenders convicted of burglary and imprisoned in the nearby Rochester Youth Custody Centre. Victims usually have been involved in unsolved crimes. Program aims are to help victims come to terms with the burglary and confront offenders with the results of burglary. Victims are referred to the program by victims-support-scheme volunteers and the local police crime prevention officer. Victims and offenders, four to six of each, meet as a group for three 1 1/2-hour discussion and role-play sessions at weekly intervals. Fourteen sets of meetings have been conducted since the program began in 1983. Fifty victims and 48 offenders have participated. Phase 1 of the program evaluation, completed in 1984, consisted of the administration of questionnaires to victim and offender participants before and after the meetings. Victims rated themselves as being less anxious and angry after the meetings, and they rated burglars more positively than before the meetings. Offenders similarly rated victims more positively after the meetings. Phase 2 of the evaluation is in progress. 3 tables, 39 references.