Do I have to participate?

Victim-offender dialogue is voluntary, meaning you get to choose if you want to participate. However, the majority of people who participate are glad they did.

I´m nervous about meeting the victim / offender...

It´s natural to be nervous, and the mediator will help prepare you for the victim-offender dialogue in advance. And, most people who participate in victim-offender dialogue say they feel much better after meeting with and talking to the other person involved.

Why does the Court support this victim-offender dialogue program?

There are a lot of reasons, but in general programs like this tend to reduce repeat crimes, save taxpayers money, and increase victims´ satisfaction with the criminal justice process.