1. Victim-Offender Mediation Impact upon Youth Crime Presented by Betty Noreen, Mediation Advisor North Star Youth Mediation Program (907) 457-6797, fax (907) 457-6791 nsycmed@mosquitonet.com www.mosquitonet.com/~nsyc/NSYMP/ Presented by Betty Noreen, Mediation Advisor North Star Youth Mediation Program (907) 457-6797, fax (907) 457-6791 nsycmed@mosquitonet.com www.mosquitonet.com/~nsyc/NSYMP/

2. Agenda  Victim-Offender Mediation  Based on Restorative Justice Principles  Characteristics and Benefits  Stages  Effect of VOM on Juvenile Offender Recidivism  North Star Youth Mediation Program  Questions and Comments  Victim-Offender Mediation  Based on Restorative Justice Principles  Characteristics and Benefits  Stages  Effect of VOM on Juvenile Offender Recidivism  North Star Youth Mediation Program  Questions and Comments

3. Victim-Offender Mediation is Based upon Restorative Justice Principles:  Offense is against people/community  All parties are affected  They take an active role in restoration  Offenders are held directly accountable  Repairs emotional and material harm  Restores losses  Offense is against people/community  All parties are affected  They take an active role in restoration  Offenders are held directly accountable  Repairs emotional and material harm  Restores losses

4. Restorative Justice Questions: 1.What is the harm? 2.What needs to be done to repair the harm? 3.Who is responsible for the repair? 1.What is the harm? 2.What needs to be done to repair the harm? 3.Who is responsible for the repair?

5. VOM Characteristics and Benefits  Collaborative, not adversarial  Empowers Victims  Holds Offender accountable  Guilt/Innocence is not an issue  Victim’s questions are answered  Promotes mutual understanding  Develops mutually acceptable restitution plans  Provides closure for both victim and offender  Collaborative, not adversarial  Empowers Victims  Holds Offender accountable  Guilt/Innocence is not an issue  Victim’s questions are answered  Promotes mutual understanding  Develops mutually acceptable restitution plans  Provides closure for both victim and offender

6. VOM Stages  Referral and Screening  Pre-Mediation Meetings  Mediation  Follow Up  Review  Closure  Referral and Screening  Pre-Mediation Meetings  Mediation  Follow Up  Review  Closure

7. The Effect of Victim Offender Mediation on Juvenile Offender Recidivism: A Meta-Analysis by Bradshaw, Roseborough & Umbreit Conflict Resolution Quarterly, Vo. 24, No. 1, Fall 2006 “This article reports the results of a meta-analysis of the effects of victim offender mediation (VOM) on juvenile recidivism. Analyses were conducted on fifteen studies consisting of 9,172 juveniles in twenty-one service sites in the United States. Participation in VOM accounted for a 34 percent reduction in juvenile recidivism.”

8. North Star Youth Mediation Program  A program of North Star Youth Court in Fairbanks, Alaska  Began in 2001 with Victim-Offender Mediation and Peer Mediation  Parent-Teen Mediation added in 2005  A program of North Star Youth Court in Fairbanks, Alaska  Began in 2001 with Victim-Offender Mediation and Peer Mediation  Parent-Teen Mediation added in 2005

9. Program Characteristics:  Non-Profit Organization, $25 referral fee  Co-facilitated by youth and adult mediators  Provides basic and parent-teen mediation training  Utilizes volunteer adult mediators  Monthly Youth Mediator Corps meetings  Develops youth leadership and competency  Promotes community awareness of alternative conflict resolution and restorative justice options  Non-Profit Organization, $25 referral fee  Co-facilitated by youth and adult mediators  Provides basic and parent-teen mediation training  Utilizes volunteer adult mediators  Monthly Youth Mediator Corps meetings  Develops youth leadership and competency  Promotes community awareness of alternative conflict resolution and restorative justice options

10. Program Goals:  To model good communication and conflict resolution skills with courtesy and respect.  To demonstrate that conflict exists universally and can have positive outcomes.  To teach the critical life-skill of how to resolve further conflict constructively.  To identify and focus on the underlying needs expressed in actions or positions.  To gain an understanding and appreciation of our differences and to identify similarities.  To learn something new about the other person and develop empathy and closeness.  To come to mutual agreement on how to resolve a conflict or repair a harm.  To model good communication and conflict resolution skills with courtesy and respect.  To demonstrate that conflict exists universally and can have positive outcomes.  To teach the critical life-skill of how to resolve further conflict constructively.  To identify and focus on the underlying needs expressed in actions or positions.  To gain an understanding and appreciation of our differences and to identify similarities.  To learn something new about the other person and develop empathy and closeness.  To come to mutual agreement on how to resolve a conflict or repair a harm.

11. Potential Referral Sources  Victim-Offender Mediation  Youth Court Sentencing Option  Juvenile Probation Officers  Superior Court Juvenile Disposition  Alaska State Troopers/Police Officers  Peer Mediation  Schools & Youth Programs  Resource Agencies  Private Individuals  Parent-Teen Mediation  Children and Family Service Agencies  Private Individuals  Victim-Offender Mediation  Youth Court Sentencing Option  Juvenile Probation Officers  Superior Court Juvenile Disposition  Alaska State Troopers/Police Officers  Peer Mediation  Schools & Youth Programs  Resource Agencies  Private Individuals  Parent-Teen Mediation  Children and Family Service Agencies  Private Individuals

12. Questions???? Questions????