What is the...VICTIM-OFFENDER DIALOGUE
Victims and survivors often have questions only their offenders can answer, and wish to talk directly with the person responsible for their harm. Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) provides the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting between the victim/survivor of a crime and the person who committed the crime. It is a cautious process facilitated by a trained professional.
Victim Offender Dialogue is...
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Victim requested. Only victims and survivors may initiate the process.
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Victim driven. Victims and survivors decide the pace of the process, and what is or isn’t
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addressed.
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Victim sensitive. The rights and needs of the victims and survivors are considered at
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every step of the process.
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Empowering. Victims and survivors may feel stronger and more confident in their lives
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as a result of this process.
If you're interested in participating in the VOD Program, here are some additional items to consider.
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The victim or survivor must be at least 18 years-old
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Requests involving offenders on probation or under parole supervision are not currently being accepted.
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VOD preparation is not allowed to overlap appeals, civil suits, or parole or pardon processes. This means the VOD process must be completed before the parole hearing.
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An offender may choose to participate or not to participate, and will be neither be rewarded nor punished for the decision.
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The process can be stopped temporarily or permanently at any point by the facilitators, the victim, or the offender. Participation in preparation does not guarantee that a dialogue will take place. The preparation process takes as long as it takes (can be a year or more)and leads to a single meeting.
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The VOD process may not be used by an offender in an attempt to obtain an early release from prison.
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If you would like to learn more about participating in a VOD process, contact Victim Services.