Victim-Offender Mediation

"Working Together to Make Things Right"

Victim-Offender Mediation is a program offered by the Greene County Juvenile Office in partnership with the Center for Dispute Resolution at Missouri State University. Victim-Offender Mediation is a face-to-face meeting between a juvenile who committed an offense and the victim he or she harmed. A trained volunteer mediator is present and helps guide the meeting. The juvenile offender and the victim have the opportunity to talk to one another about what happened, the effects of the crime on their lives, and their feelings about it. If the offender and the victim agree on a restitution plan (for example, paying the victim back for damage done, community service, etc.), the mediator will write up that agreement and give a copy of it to the Juvenile Office. It then becomes the official restitution agreement for the juvenile who committed the offense.

Who Benefits?

Through this process victims have an opportunity to get answers to their questions about the crime and the person who committed it. They take an active role in getting their material and emotional needs met.

Offenders have an opportunity to take responsibility for what they have done. They learn the impact of their actions on others. They take an active role in making things right, for example, through restitution, apology, or community service.

Become a trained Volunteer Mediator!

For more information on becoming a trained Victim-Offender Mediation Volunteer or to or to learn more about the program, please contact the Center for Dispute Resolution at Missouri State University, or Mandi Franck at the Greene County Juvenile Office.

Center for Dispute Resolution
CDR@MissouriState.edu
(417) 836-8831