Meeting the murderer: Profile of victim-offender dialogue facilitator

from the entry on Grits for Breakfast:

See an interesting article from the Christian Science Monitor about a boat builder from Maine who runs a non-profit facilitating victim-offender dialogue (VOD) between violent criminals and their victims or their families, which is an idea derived from "restorative justice" models. 

Apr 27, 2012 Dialogue, Victim, Offender, Other, Region: North America and Caribbean, Prison, Country:USA

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Select committee urged to avoid courtroom 'Oprahfication'

from the article on Voxy.co.nz:

Rethinking Crime and Punishment agrees that victims should be able to provide information to the court about the effects of offending; and the harm they have suffered. However, it does not believe that the presentation of a victim impact statement in the Court, was the best way to achieve it.

Apr 24, 2012 Region: Pacific, Mediation, System, Country:New Zealand, Other, Victim, Court

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5 amazing things I've heard during the Sycamore Tree Project(R)

by Martin Howard:

At first, it sounds like a bizarre social experiment - natural enemies placed together inside a prison to see if they can get along. Men convicted of violent crimes alongside victims of violent crime.

Even though the concept has been proven in over 25 countries, people still find it hard to comprehend the Sycamore Tree Project (STP). And it took a long time to convince the prison authorities in Queensland to allow it.

Apr 17, 2012 Region: Pacific, Country:Australia, Other, Victim, Prison

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