Victim‐offender mediation by New Zealand probation officers: The possibilities and the reality

In: Mediation quarterly: journal of the Academy of Family Mediators, Band 12, Heft 3, S. 249-262

Abstract

AbstractLegislation in New Zealand has established a preference for reparation in sentencing property offenders. Judges may request probation officers to prepare reparation reports, making it the officers' responsibility to attempt to secure victim and offender agreement. Although judges and probation officers perceive mediation and victim‐offender meetings as helpful to both parties and as appropriate mechanisms for setting reparations, mediation occurs infrequently, partly because judges and probation officers also perceive that victims do not want to meet offenders. A victim survey suggests this perception may be incorrect. Also, positive perceptions require administrative support to be translated into practice.