Victim-Offender Mediation with Youth Offenders in Europe An Overview and Comparison of 15 Countries

European Union member states are requested by the EU Council to adapt their legislation to promote Victim-Offender Mediation by March 2006 (Framework Decision of March 15, 2001, arts. 10, 17). Are European countries ready to meet this requirement? Can those European countries currently falling short of VOM programmes be assisted in initiating them?

This book documents the state of the art on Victim-Offender Mediation with youth offenders in 15 European nations (Austria, Belgium, England and Wales, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden). It provides an up-do date review of current theory and practice and presents a critical discussion of problems and benefits which may help guide future policy decisions and applications. The book informs both those who are interested in evaluating the current state of affairs of Victim-Offender Mediation with youth offenders in Europe, and those who would like to promote Victim-Offender Mediation in their own countries.

The common format used in each chapter facilitates comparison across countries. Per country, five areas of investigation are explored and discussed: norms and legislation allowing for the implementation of victim-offender mediation programmes; values and theoretical frameworks of victim-offender mediation; organizational structure of victim-offender mediation services; professional characteristics of mediators; benefits, potential problems, and criticisms of current practice.

The book has broad interdisciplinary appeal and is of interest to policymakers, lawyers, psychologists, social workers, mediators, and academics.