news

Summary

Umbreit, Mark S and Vos, Betty (1999). "Homicide Survivors Meet the Offender Prior to Execution. Restorative Justice Through Dialogue." Homicide Studies. 4(1): 63-87.

This article presents two case studies that represent the first examination of any capital murder cases involving a victim offender mediation/dialogue session between a surviving family member and the death row inmate facing execution shortly after the mediation session. The 5 participants (3 surviving members and 2 offenders) in these ground-breaking dialogue sessions stated that this intervention had a powerful impact on their lives; all had been moved beyond their expectations, all were grateful for the opportunity. Furthermore, all 5 persons pointed out the same set of components to account for their responses. The authors suggest that practitioners and policy makers should give serious consideration to cautiously expanding opportunities for such restorative encounters that are initiated and requested by victims and surviving family members of severely violent crimes.

1279