Victim/Offender Conferencing

What is VOC of MC?
Why VOC?
What are our referral sources?
Who are facilitators?
What is the Process
Participant feedback
For More Information

What is VOC of MC?

Victim Offender Conferencing of Montgomery County is a program of Montgomery County Mediation Center. VOC of MC provides an opportunity for victims of juvenile crimes and youth offenders to meet face to face in through a voluntary confidential mediation.

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Why VOC?

VOC has proved to be highly beneficial to all parties involved.

The victims have an opportunity to talk about the crime and its impact with the person directly responsible, take an active role in the justice process, and receive compensation for losses.
The offenders face the real human and financial costs of their actions, take action in accepting responsibility, and take steps towards becoming productive members of the community.
Communities and community volunteers have a direct impact on juvenile crime, have an opportunity to support victims, and learn facilitation skills that can be useful in other areas.
Criminal justice officials have an opportunity to offer greater participation for victims and offenders, benefit from repayment of restitution by youth offenders, and have potential for reduction in re-offenses by juvenile offenders.

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What are our referral sources?

Most of VOC's referrals come from:

Montgomery County Juvenile Probation
Youth Aid Panels
Schools
Police
Lawyers
Participants

VOC has worked on cases including but not limited to harassment, simple assault, trespassing, theft, burglary, aggravated assault, retail theft, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property, and disorderly conduct.

VOC does not work with juveniles accused of sex crimes or crimes of severe violence.

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Who are facilitators?

VOC uses trained mediators from throughout Montgomery County to facilitate the victim/offender conferences.

The role of the facilitators is to:

provide information on VOC
listen throughout the mediation
Aid the parties in communicating clearly and productively with each other, without making any decisions for them.

The facilitator acts as a guide in mediations, as it is the philosophy of VOC that participants should make all of their own decisions, including guidelines, what to talk about, how to talk about it and outcome.

Interested in being a facilitator? VOC offers training for those interested in volunteering with the program. (The MCMC "Basic Mediation Training" course is a prerequisite.) Click here for a volunteer application.

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What is the Process

Step One: Individual Meetings

The facilitator contacts the offender and the victim to talk about the program
If both parties are interested, the facilitators meet separately with both parties to prepare them for the joint conference.
These meetings are held in home. Each party tells the facilitator his/her interpretation of what happened and the facilitator informs the client of what to expect in the joint session.

Step Two: Conference

At the conference, the facilitators guide the offender and victim through a process that includes talking about the crime and its impact, compensation for losses or damages and any issues for the future.
The participants set all guidelines and make all decisions in the mediation.
Written agreement may be established if desired by the participants.
Joint conferences are always held at a neutral location.

Step Three: Follow Up

A copy of the agreement and the case status may be provided to the referral source.
VOC is responsible for monitoring the agreement.
If both parties desire, a follow up meeting can be scheduled.

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Participant Feedback

VOC provides a unique opportunity for honesty, communication, and restoration between juvenile offenders and victims of juvenile crime. Both parties involved often find VOC to be an opportunity to come to terms with a difficult event in their lives. As one mother of an offender put it:

"My son had the chance to meet with the person he hurt. He was given the opportunity to rectify the situation and realize that he didn't just damage property but that he actually hurt a human being as well."

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For More Information

Victim/Offender Conferencing of Montgomery County is located at:
3075 Ridge Pike, Suite B
Eagleville, PA 19403
Email: rkolb@MontcoMediation.com
Call: 610-277-9320
Fax: 610-277-5126

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Home About MCMC Mediation Services Restorative Justice Victim/Offender Conferencing Youth Aid Panels Training & Workshops More Information Contact Us Links Fees Forms "I think that I was given every opportunity to express myself and what I did, and everyone was understanding. Everything I could have wanted happened" -Offender		Victim/Offender Conferencing What is VOC of MC? Why VOC? What are our referral sources? Who are facilitators? What is the Process Participant feedback For More Information What is VOC of MC? Victim Offender Conferencing of Montgomery County is a program of Montgomery County Mediation Center. VOC of MC provides an opportunity for victims of juvenile crimes and youth offenders to meet face to face in through a voluntary confidential mediation. » top Why VOC? VOC has proved to be highly beneficial to all parties involved. The victims have an opportunity to talk about the crime and its impact with the person directly responsible, take an active role in the justice process, and receive compensation for losses. The offenders face the real human and financial costs of their actions, take action in accepting responsibility, and take steps towards becoming productive members of the community. Communities and community volunteers have a direct impact on juvenile crime, have an opportunity to support victims, and learn facilitation skills that can be useful in other areas. Criminal justice officials have an opportunity to offer greater participation for victims and offenders, benefit from repayment of restitution by youth offenders, and have potential for reduction in re-offenses by juvenile offenders. » top What are our referral sources? Most of VOC's referrals come from: Montgomery County Juvenile Probation Youth Aid Panels Schools Police Lawyers Participants VOC has worked on cases including but not limited to harassment, simple assault, trespassing, theft, burglary, aggravated assault, retail theft, criminal mischief, receiving stolen property, and disorderly conduct. VOC does not work with juveniles accused of sex crimes or crimes of severe violence. » top Who are facilitators? VOC uses trained mediators from throughout Montgomery County to facilitate the victim/offender conferences. The role of the facilitators is to: provide information on VOC listen throughout the mediation Aid the parties in communicating clearly and productively with each other, without making any decisions for them. The facilitator acts as a guide in mediations, as it is the philosophy of VOC that participants should make all of their own decisions, including guidelines, what to talk about, how to talk about it and outcome. Interested in being a facilitator? VOC offers training for those interested in volunteering with the program. (The MCMC "Basic Mediation Training" course is a prerequisite.) Click here for a volunteer application. » top What is the Process Step One: Individual Meetings The facilitator contacts the offender and the victim to talk about the program If both parties are interested, the facilitators meet separately with both parties to prepare them for the joint conference. These meetings are held in home. Each party tells the facilitator his/her interpretation of what happened and the facilitator informs the client of what to expect in the joint session. Step Two: Conference At the conference, the facilitators guide the offender and victim through a process that includes talking about the crime and its impact, compensation for losses or damages and any issues for the future. The participants set all guidelines and make all decisions in the mediation. Written agreement may be established if desired by the participants. Joint conferences are always held at a neutral location. Step Three: Follow Up A copy of the agreement and the case status may be provided to the referral source. VOC is responsible for monitoring the agreement. If both parties desire, a follow up meeting can be scheduled. » top Participant Feedback VOC provides a unique opportunity for honesty, communication, and restoration between juvenile offenders and victims of juvenile crime. Both parties involved often find VOC to be an opportunity to come to terms with a difficult event in their lives. As one mother of an offender put it: "My son had the chance to meet with the person he hurt. He was given the opportunity to rectify the situation and realize that he didn't just damage property but that he actually hurt a human being as well." » top For More Information Victim/Offender Conferencing of Montgomery County is located at: 3075 Ridge Pike, Suite B Eagleville, PA 19403 Email: rkolb@MontcoMediation.com Call: 610-277-9320 Fax: 610-277-5126 » top 20080211