What are victim offender meetings?
Victim-offender meetings (VOM) allow victims to meet face to face with the person who committed the crime against them. The process invites victims to participate in the justice system to hold an offender usually a juvenile accountable in a meaningful way. A trained mediator arranges for the meetings to occur. VOM is voluntary. Before victims and offenders meet, the mediator checks with each person to make certain that everyone is willing to attend the meeting. The mediator reviews ground rules that ask everyone to be respectful and truthful with each other. The mediator will also describe what to expect and answer any questions and concerns the victim and offender may have. At the victim-offender meeting, the offender talks about the crime and the victim talks about the impact the crime had on him or her and others. There is a discussion concerning how the offender can attempt to repair the harm that was done. The meeting usually ends with an agreement that could include restitution,
