Victim Offender Dialogue: What, Why, and How

Barbara Raye will talk about the Restorative Justice practice of Victim Offender Mediation. VOM engages those who have been harmed by crime or other actions, those who have offended or harmed others, and the communities they live in. Its goals are to empower people to define their own needs for healing, prevent future harm, and build community connections for the long term health of everyone involved. She will share with us what it means, how it works, and some of the creative ways victims have found to heal the harm that has been done to them.

Barbara Raye started her restorative justice work while establishing shelters for battered women and their children and a violent partner program. She has extensive training in restorative justice, mediation, and conflict resolution. She served for 4 years as the Director of Victim Services at the Minnesota Department of Corrections and helped introduce RJ in Minnesota. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Policy, Planning, and Performance with offices in Minnesota, Kenya, and Romania. She is also the Executive Administrator of the Victim Offender Mediation Association and teaches Conflict and Collaboration at St. Mary's University in Minneapolis, MN. She has written articles for two textbooks on Restorative Justice: The Handbook of Restorative Justice (Willan Publishers) and Critical Issues in Restorative Justice (Criminal Justice Press.)

For more information go to: Victim Offender Mediation Association