news
Video Review: Complete Victim Offender Mediation and Conferencing Training
Bringing victims and offenders together in face-to-face meetings requires sensitivity to the needs of each throughout the process. This 117-minute training video provides a glimpse into the dynamics of these types of meetings by presenting the entire process from preparation to actual mediation for two cases.
St Paul, MN: Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, University of Minnesota. 117 minutes.
The Complete Victim Offender Mediation and Conferencing Training video provides an overview of the stages of victim offender mediation. Beginning with a brief overview of key points about mediation, the video presents the preparation meetings and actual face-to-face meetings for two cases. In the first, a young offender who has confessed to a burglary chooses to meet with his victim in a one-on-one mediation with a facilitator. In the second case, both the victim and offender are accompanied by support people.
Each case begins with separate preparation meetings for victim and offender. Although the two cases have very different dynamics – in one case the offender and her supporter question the labeling of the behaviour as criminal – the video shows the importance of explaining the programme to all participants, allowing the participants tell their stories without judgment or interruption, and providing them with the opportunity to decide on their level of participation. In the second case, the facilitators gently challenge the attitude of the offender by asking her to think about if someone had done the same thing to her property. Throughout the meetings, the facilitators demonstrate how to be respectful and allow parties to make their own decisions about whether or not to participate, to bring supporters and to consider possible elements of the agreement.
The actual mediation meetings show how the facilitator can creates space for communication between the parties involved. The general sequence is the same for both meetings. The facilitators begin with introductions, explain the process that will be followed during the meeting and ask if anyone has questions or concerns before getting started. In each case, the facilitators invite the victim to tell his or her story first. From that point on, the facilitators do their best to stay out of the conversation unless there is a need to ask a question to move the dialogue along.
The Complete Victim Offender Mediation and Conferencing is a valuable training resource for illustrating some of the dynamics in victim offender mediation. It is available from the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota for $20.00. http://rjp.umn.edu/Resources/videos.html#Vol5
Lynette Parker
February 2007
The Complete Victim Offender Mediation and Conferencing Training video provides an overview of the stages of victim offender mediation. Beginning with a brief overview of key points about mediation, the video presents the preparation meetings and actual face-to-face meetings for two cases. In the first, a young offender who has confessed to a burglary chooses to meet with his victim in a one-on-one mediation with a facilitator. In the second case, both the victim and offender are accompanied by support people.
Each case begins with separate preparation meetings for victim and offender. Although the two cases have very different dynamics – in one case the offender and her supporter question the labeling of the behaviour as criminal – the video shows the importance of explaining the programme to all participants, allowing the participants tell their stories without judgment or interruption, and providing them with the opportunity to decide on their level of participation. In the second case, the facilitators gently challenge the attitude of the offender by asking her to think about if someone had done the same thing to her property. Throughout the meetings, the facilitators demonstrate how to be respectful and allow parties to make their own decisions about whether or not to participate, to bring supporters and to consider possible elements of the agreement.
The actual mediation meetings show how the facilitator can creates space for communication between the parties involved. The general sequence is the same for both meetings. The facilitators begin with introductions, explain the process that will be followed during the meeting and ask if anyone has questions or concerns before getting started. In each case, the facilitators invite the victim to tell his or her story first. From that point on, the facilitators do their best to stay out of the conversation unless there is a need to ask a question to move the dialogue along.
The Complete Victim Offender Mediation and Conferencing is a valuable training resource for illustrating some of the dynamics in victim offender mediation. It is available from the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota for $20.00. http://rjp.umn.edu/Resources/videos.html#Vol5
Lynette Parker
February 2007
Document Actions
Last modified Feb 03, 2007 12:40 AM
