NCJ Number
93034
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, which involves victim-offender reconciliation and offender restitution, involves the steps of referral, client intake, assignment to a volunteer, mediation, and monitoring.
Abstract
The Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) can be a total or partial substitute for incarceration. Meetings between offenders and their victims are arranged, providing the opportunity for negotiation, reconciliation, and restitution. Cases are usually referred to VORP by the court and probation department, although referrals may be accepted from other criminal justice and community agencies. After a referral is received and screened at VORP, it is assigned to a trained community volunteer. The volunteer separately contacts the victim and offender, explaining the program discussing the offense and its aftermath, and soliciting participation. If the victim and offender agree to meet each other, the volunteer sets and facilitates a meeting at which the facts of the case are discussed, restitution negotiated, and a contract signed which states the nature and amount of restitution. Additionally, the meeting gives the victim and offender an opportunity to express their feelings about the offense so as to resolve the conflict between them. After the meeting, the contract and a written summary are sent to the referring agency for approval and enforcement. VORP maintains contact with the victim until fulfillment of the contract is verified. VORP deals principally with property offenses, and as a sentencing alternative, VORP is not to be used as an additional penalty tacked on a standard sentence. Program participation is voluntary, and while VORP may be ordered as part of a criminal sentence or as a probation condition, the referral will not be pursued if either victim or offender is unwilling. Should no agreement be reached at the meeting, options are explained and the case is returned to the referring agency. (Author summary modified)