Effects of victim offender dialogue on mental health and trauma appraisals among victims of violence

This study examines the impact of Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) on victims and survivors of violent crime. We apply a mixed methods approach to compare the experiences of survivors participating in VOD with a group of survivors who chose not to participate at three points in time. The analysis uses...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sliva, Shannon M. (Author)
Contributors: Samimi, Ceema ; Han, Tyler M. ; Albright, Karen
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2024
In: Contemporary justice review
Year: 2024, Volume: 27, Issue: 4, Pages: 277-297
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
post traumatic stress
Trauma
crime victims
victim offender mediation
victim offender dialogue
Restorative Justice
Description
Summary:This study examines the impact of Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) on victims and survivors of violent crime. We apply a mixed methods approach to compare the experiences of survivors participating in VOD with a group of survivors who chose not to participate at three points in time. The analysis uses validated psychometric measures as well as in-depth qualitative interviews to understand the effects of VOD on victim participants’ mental health and trauma appraisals and on their satisfaction with the justice process. In this study, victim participants of VOD experienced less fear and less anger after the dialogue, as well as fewer symptoms of PTSD and depression. Further, the changes experienced by the treatment group were more significant than those in the comparison group over a similar period of time. We discuss implications for access to restorative encounters within or alongside the criminal legal process.
ISSN:1477-2248
DOI:10.1080/10282580.2024.2444905