Victim-Offender Dialogue is a cautious, often lengthy process of preparation leading toward the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between a crime victim/survivor and the offender who committed the crime.  The process can be initiated only by a victim and is intended generally to enable victims to find answers and give witness to personal impacts of the crime.  Beyond that broad intent, the indivdiual victim defines the specific purpose(s) of a particular dialogue and sets its agenda.  The offender may choose to participate or not and is neither rewarded nor penalized for the decision.

Dialogue preparation is guided and supported by trained facilitators.  They work in teams of two, meeting repeatedly with the victim and with the offender to prepare for a possible direct meeting.  Physical and emotional safety is the overriding concern. Victims and offenders are encouraged to involve a "support person" to be present with them as a silent partner through preparation and dialogue.

Additional Considerations:

Requests from direct victims of domestic violence and victims not yet age 18 are not currently being accepted.

Requests involving offenders on probation or under parole supervision are not currently being accepted.

VOD preparation will not be allowed to overlap appeals, civil suits or parole or pardon processes.

An offender may choose to participate or not to participate and will be neither rewarded nor punished for the decision.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, an offender who chooses to participate must admit guilt in the crime that is the focus of the dialogue.

The process can be stopped temporarily or permanently at any point by the facilitators or at the request of the victim or the offender. Participation in preparation does not guarantee that a dialogue will take place.

The preparation process takes as long as it takes and leads to a single meeting.

The first step in requesting dialogue is to contact the Crime Victims Services Bureau.