This allows victims an opportunity to ask questions not answered during the criminal justice process. It makes it possible for offenders to better understand the impact of their actions, to provide information and to offer an apology.

These meetings are typically conducted at the request of the victim after a significant amount of preparation of both parties and with specially-trained facilitators.

Several Departments of Corrections (DOCs) in the United States allow this type of meeting between victims and offenders.  RJOnline became interested in determining how many do so, and what information is available about the process of securing a meeting.

Rachel Weber, an intern with PFI, began our research with an internet search followed by telephone surveys to DOCs that had not posted information online. We subsequently added links to online information and short notes concerning exclusions, agencies and sources of information for specific states where we were able to find them.

A 2004 survey of in-prison victim programmes conducted by the National Institute of Corrections included a list of states that allowed VODs, and this was another source of data.

The information below is what we have collected to date. It shows that 32 states provide victim offender dialogue opportunities while 18 do not. Four of those 18 states, however, are in the process of developing programmes. When information is available online we have linked that to the appropriate state.

If readers have modifications or additional information to offer, please us at cjr@pfi.org. We are also interested in collecting similar information about countries that offer victim offender dialogue.

Daniel W. Van Ness

Rachel Weber

September 2008