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Summary

Coates, Robert B and Gehm, John R (1988). An Empirical Assessment In: M. Wright and B. Galaway (eds.), Mediation and Criminal Justice. London, UK: Sage, pp. 251-263.

This chapter reviews the lessons learned from the victim/offender reconciliation Programs (VORPs) as practiced in the United States to begin to accumulate a knowledge base useful for guiding further program development. The authors ask five central questions: 1) how does the VORP process actually function? 2) who participates and why?, 3) how do participants evaluate it? 4) what are the immediate outcomes?, and 5) to what extent does VORP function as an alternative to incarceration? VORPs are generally rated highly by participants, but have multiple goals. Four idealized models are discussed.