Mediation for reparation: The victim's perspective

European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

Volumn 6, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 106-124

  Aertsen, Ivo ^a   Peters, Tony ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN   (Belgium)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 84856413887     PISSN: 09289569     EISSN: 15718174     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1163/157181798X00139     Document Type: Review

References (32)

1. A shorter version of the first part of this article has hcen published in Dutch 39, Tijdschrift voor Criminologie (1997/4) pp. 372-383.
2. T. Peters, J. Goethals, eds. De achterkant van de criminaliteite Over victimologie, slachtofferhulp en strqf-rechtsbedeling (Antwerpen 1993).
3. I. Aertsen, K. Decraemer, Geestelijke gezondheidszorg en slachtoffers van crimineee geweld. Eindrapport over een actiegericht onderzoee in samenwerking met vijf Centra voor Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg (Leuven 1993))
4. I. Aertsen, Vademecum politiële slachtofferbejejeging (Brussel 1996))
5. T. Peters, 'Probleemoplossing en herstcl als functies van de straf, Panopticon (1996) pp. 555-569.
6. A. De Swaan, De mens is de mens een zorg (Amsterdam 1990)
7. T. Peters, 'Bemiddeling, herstel en strafrechts-pleging', Panopticon (1993) pp. 97-106.
8. J.-P. Bonafé-Schmitt, La médiation: une justice douce (Paris 1992)
9. Regarding the mediation for reparatton project two consecutive research reportt have been produced (T. Peters, I. Aertsen, 'Herstclbcmiddeling', in F. Lampaert, ed., Gevangenis en Samenleving II (Brussee 1994) pp. 165-222;
10. I. Aertsen, L. Van Garsse, Tussen dader en slachtoffer: bemiddeling in de praktijk. Onderzoeksrapport herstelhemiddeling periode 1/11/1994-31/12/1995 (Leuven 1996)
11. and some more publications are available (T. Peters, L. Aertsen, 'Restorative justice. In search of new avenues in judicial dealing with crime. The presentation of a project of mediation for reparation', in C. Fijnaut et.al. eds. Changes in society, crime and criminal justice in Europe, Vol. I. (Antwerpen 1995) pp. 311-342))
12. I. Aertsen, T. Peters, 'Actie-onderzoek, een hefboom voor beleidsontwikkeling?'. Panopticon (1995) pp. 220-238.
13. There was criticism on the unilateral orientation from some countries, such as the UK, where mediation projectt initially operated in the context of probatton. Those who took the initiative were reproached that mediation served first the (alternative) treatment of the offenderr or tried to find remedies for an overburdened justice system. The victims were thought to be seen as subservient to these goals, which provoked the danger of secondary and tertiary victimization (H. Reeves, 'The victim supporr perspective', in M. Wrightt B. Galaway, eds., Mediatiof and criminal justice: victimss offenders and community (London 1989) pp. 44-55)
14. It is important to mention the point of view of the American National Organization for Victim Assistancc (NOVA)) which stresses that the mediation model may be an advantage for the victim under the condition that victim-oriented principles are carefully respected (M. Young, Restorative Community Justice: a call to action (Washington 1996). Finally, we can learn from the practise in France, where mediation has been one of the duties of a number of victim assistancc services from the outsett Recentty offender-oriented services like the 'contrôle judiciaire' also have a role to play in the penal mediation (mediation penale).
15. M. Wrightt Justice for victims and offenders. A restorative response to crime, 2nd ed. (Winchester 1996).
16. In the independent modell the citizens themselves call directty on a mediation service which also receives referrals from different non-judicial organizations. Norwegian communaa mediation services tried - at least in the early years of their existence - to realise this independent position (J. Dullum, 'The Norwegian Mediation Boards' Eur. Journ. Crim. Pol. Res. (1996/4.4) pp. 86-94)) In the dependent modell mediation is completely integrated in the criminal justice structures. The prototype for this model is the legal organization of 'penal mediation' in Belgium. In this scheme, reparation to the victim is one of the possible conditions for a waiver of the prosecution. Mediation assistantt function at the level of prosecutorial service to mediate between offender and victim and negotiate a damage settlement (Pubitemid 127021506)
17. (C. Dewulf a.o., Evaluatte van de toepassing van de wet houdende regeling van een procedure voor de bemiddeling in strafzaken in België van I januari 1995 tot 31 decembee 1995 (Brussel 1996))
18. Umbreit mentions different researchee with explicstly higher percentages, e.g. between 50 and 80 per cent (M. Umbreit, Mediating interpersonaa conflicts: a pathway to peace (West Concord 1995)). Nevertheless, we have to be careful because it mostly concerns minor property crimes committed by juveniles. A German national victim survey, carried out by the Max Planck Institute, demonstrated that 45 per cent of all victims expressed their readiness to meet with the offenderr Researrc also demonstrated that 30 to 40 per cent of the victims who manifested initial resistancc against the idea of a personal meeting with the offenderr agreed to an indirect mediation. Only 27 per cent of the intervtewee victims rejected any type of mediation
19. (M. Löschnig-Gspandl, M. Kilch-ling, 'Victim/Offender mediation and victim compensation in Austria and Germany - Stocktaking and perspectives for future research' Eur. J. Crime Cr.LCr.J. (1997/1) pp. 58-78)) (Pubitemid 127110723)
20. Marshall and Merry discovered, when evaluating the first English mediation projects, that 60 per cent of the victims expressed their consent to direct or indirectt mediation (T. Marshall, 'Restorative justice on trial in Britain', in H. Messmerr H.-U. Otto, eds., Restorative justice on trial (Dordrecht 1992) pp. 15-28)
21. Weitekamp referring to international research results, menttons an agreement of 50 to 70 per cent among victims to take part in one type or another of mediatton (E. Weitekampp The paradigm of restorative justice: potentials, possibilities and pitfalls. Keynott lecture for the 9th Internationaa Symposium on Victimology (Amsterdam 1997))
22. I. Aertsen, 'Slachtoffers van crimineel gewcld. Eep kwalitatief- fenomenologische analyse' in T. Peters, J. Goe-thals, eds. loc.cit., pp. 117-217; H. Reevess op.cit. M. Wrightt op.citt
23. M. Voss, 'Victim expectations, diversion and informal settlement: resulls of a victim survey' in G. Kaiserr H. Kury, HJ. Albrechtt eds., Victims and criminal justice (Freiburg 1991) pp. 67-94.
24. T. Marshall, The search for restorative justice: reflections on the Leuven mediation project (Brussel 1994).
25. Victim Support, The rights of victims of crime (London 1995))
26. J.M. Wemmers, Victims in the criminal justice system (Amsterdam/New York 1996))
27. 'rechtvaardig' - rechtsfähig - law skill' (L. Van Garsse, 'Herstelbemiddeling. Op het scherp van de snee tussen justitie en welzijnswerk', Sociaal (1996//1 pp. 8-14).
28. J. Dignan, Repairing the damage: an evaluation of an experimental adult reparation scheme in Kettering, Northamptonshire (Sheffield 1990)
29. Ministry of Justice New Zealand, Restorative Justice. A discussion paper (Welllngton 1995); M. Umbreit, op.cit.
30. W.L. Kennedy, On the borders of crime. Conflict management and criminology (New York 1990)
31. M. Umbreit, Victtm meets offender. The impact of restorative justice and mediation (Monsey 1994)
32. Cf. e.g. T. Roberts, Evaluation of the victim offendee mediation project, Langley, B.C. Final report for Solicitor General Canada (Victorra 1995))