Sponsor Statement for HB 7

COMMUNITY DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTERS

Victim offender mediation is a process in which trained volunteer mediators bring victims and juvenile offenders face to face to discuss the property loss and emotional damage caused by the crime. The pricnciple goal of this meeting is to obtain an agreement between the victim and the offender on a restitution contract.

Victim offender mediation is part of the larger concept of restorative justice. With this approach offenders take personal responsibility for repairing the damage they have caused.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

FOR VICTIMS:

• Victims report great satisfaction with mediation process. It allows them to confront the offender with the very real personal impact of their crime.

• Victims report satisfaction with the restitution agreements because they are tailor made to repair their specific loss and their needs for restitution.

• Victims appreciate having their case resolved in a timely and efficient manner with their maximum involvement.

FOR OFFENDERS:

• Offenders have the chance to talk with a victim and to make amends for their crime.

• Offenders are more willing to fulfill the restitution agreements that they helped create.

• Offenders' parents get involved.

FOR THE COMMUNITY:

• The public sees timely and more meaningful responses to juvenile crime.

• Volunteer community mediators have a direct impact on youth.

• National studies of victim offender mediation programs found that offenders committed considerably fewer future crimes.