CROSS-SITE ANALYSIS OF VICTIM-OFFENDER MEDIATION IN 4 STATES

This article reports on the first cross-site analysis of victim-offend er mediation programs in the United States, working with juvenile cour ts in Albuquerque, Austin, Minneapolis, and Oakland. A total of 1,153 interviews were conducted with victims and offenders. These included p re- and postmediation interviews and the use of two comparison groups. Court officials were interviewed and 28 observations of mediations we re conducted. The vast majority of victims and offenders experienced t he mediation process and outcome as fair and were quite satisfied with it. Mediation resulted in significantly greater satisfaction and perc eptions of fairness for victims, as well as significantly higher resti tution completion by offenders, than found in comparison groups. Some implications for juvenile justice policy are offered.