Victim Meets Offender (1993) is truly a seminal publication in the restorative justice movement. It represents the first multi-state empirical study of the impact of restorative justice dialogue through the first and most widely used restorative justice practice, namely victim offender mediation (also referred to as victim offender reconciliation, victim offender conferencing, or victim offender dialogue). Examining programs in California, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas, this book provides comparison group data on client satisfaction, victim perceptions of fairness, and completion of restitution. Recidivism data is also included. After more than three decades, Umbreit’s seminal publication remains the most widely cited restorative justice study and has influenced policy development and practice in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

"Here in one easily accessible book is a summary of the key research findings in victim-offender mediation/reconciliation, coupled with practical suggestions for those operating or starting such programs." Howard Zeh Director, MCC Office, Crime and Justice"Dr Umbreit is the foremost practitioner and researcher in the areas of crime victim and offender mediation. This book reports findings from the only major study on the topic." Burt Galaway Dean, Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba

These Guidelines assist administrators in developing or enhancing their restorative justice programs. It provides practical guidance for mediators to facilitate balanced & fair mediation, which will ensure the safety & integrity of all the participants. Chapters: victim-offender mediation: a national perspective; guidelines for victim-sensitive mediation & dialogue with offenders; recommendations for program development; results of a survey of victim-offender mediation programs in the U.S.; what is humanistic mediation?; profiles of programs; & promising practices. Bibliography.

Victim offender dialogues have been developed as a way to hold offenders accountable to the person they have harmed and to give victims a voice about how to put things right. It is a way of acknowledging the importance of the relationship, of the connection which crime creates. Granted, the relationship is a negative one, but there is a relationship. Amstutz has been a practitioner and a teacher in the field for more than 20 years.

Written by Mark Umbreit, internationally known for his work in restorative justice, this indispensable resource offers an empirically grounded, state-of-the-art analysis of the application and impact of victim offender mediation, a movement that has spread throughout North America and abroad. The Handbook of Victim Offender Mediation provides practical guidance and resources for offering victim meditation in property crimes, in minor assaults, and, more recently, with crimes of severe violence, including with family members of murder victims who request to meet the offender.