Seeing the Big Picture

Through, CASA, I was approached to train for a program through the State's Attorney General's office this weekend.  The program is called the "Victim Offender Mediation Program."  Through grants, the program works with  juvenile 1st time non-violent offenders. If the case qualifies and the victim/s agrees, they will meet with a facilitator who will act as a mediator.  It allows the victim to voice what the crime meant to them. The offender is able to see the entire picture of what that crime caused so they can understand the fall-out.  Then they design a to-do list for the offender to complete so that the charge is then wiped from their record. It is already proving to be a very effective way to keep these first-timers out of the system for good.