Juvenile Victim Offender Mediation

A trained mediator guides a face-to-face meeting between the youth who committed a crime and the person they have harmed.

At the meeting, the juvenile offender and the victim talk to each other about what happened and how it has affected them. They may also discuss restitution, which is what the youth who committed the crime can do to repair the harm they caused. Once a restitution plan is agreed upon by the juvenile offender and the victim, the mediator writes the agreement plan and submits it as the official restitution agreement.

Additionally, support and case management services for youth served and their families are part of the JVOM program; these services are intended to reduce future involvement in the judicial system, reduce youth’s need for placement outside of the home, and provide alternatives for at-risk youth involvement in the juvenile justice systems. Services include:

  • Crisis intervention

  • Behavior management

  • Individual supportive counseling

  • Life skill development

  • Family conferencing

  • Limited transportation assistance

  • Community service supervision

FAQ

  • JVOM is voluntary. Both victim and juvenile offender get to choose if they want to participate.

  • The mediator will set the mediation in a neutral location, such as the NYAP office or a private room within the community, at a time that works best for everyone.

  • Referrals can be made by judges, probation officers, victim advocates, prosecutors, defense attorneys, school counselors, and/or police officers.