Ms. Umbreit, CRIME VICTIMS CONFRONT THEIR OFFENDERS - THE IMPACT OF A MINNEAPOLIS MEDIATION PROGRAM, Research on social work practice, 4(4), 1994, pp. 436-447
Social workers are playing an increasingly active role in the emerging
field of mediation. This article presents the findings of an evaluati
on of a victim offender mediation program. The study is based on a qua
si-experimental design involving 516 interviews with 441 crime victims
and juvenile offenders, including pre- and postmediation interviews a
nd involving two comparison groups. The vast majority of victims and o
ffenders experienced the mediation process and outcome (restitution ag
reement) as fair and were satisfied with the program. Significantly gr
eater victim satisfaction and perception of fairness, as well as highe
r restitution completion rates by offenders, were found.