The Restorative Conferencing Program is a face-to-face meeting between victims and offenders that attempts to “heal” both parties by allowing them to talk about the crime and its effects.

 

The program is offered for non-person offenses such as thefts, burglaries, property damage and vandalism. It is not available for assaults, other person-on-person crimes or felonies. It is completely voluntary and does not take the place of court-ordered restitution.

 

The process begins by contacting the victim and offender and setting up a separate pre-conference meeting with each. Meetings will generally be at their home on their terms with any support people they want to have present.

 

“It gives the victim a chance to vent, whether it’s about the justice system or about the crime,” says Corey Mabis, supervisor with the probation department. “Tell us how you’re feeling about this situation. A lot of times it’s the first time they’re being heard.”

 

Offenders also get a pre-conference meeting with probation officers, where the offender gets an opportunity to talk about the event and how they feel about what they did. It’s an opportunity to apologize if they are willing. But they are not required to.

 

Mabis says by evaluating both parties during the pre-conference meetings, the probation officers can determine whether the two parties are “in a good place” and will be able to meet face-to-face.

 

Ground rules are established at the pre-conference meetings so each party knows what they are able to say at the face-to-face meeting. Each must be respectful and listen to what the other has to say. There is no interrupting or inappropriate language allowed. And each has a right to a time out during the meeting.

 

“At any point in time, if we think it’s going down the wrong route we’ll stop, step outside and tell them to follow the ground rules or we’ll stop it,” says Mabis. “Usually it doesn’t happen that way. Everyone is usually respectful.”

 

Mabis says most times the victim just wants to tell the offender how much impact the crime has had.

 

“It allows the victim of a burglary to ask things like, “What did you do with my stuff? Why did you pick my house? Some of that was my family’s stuff. Where is it? Can I get it back?” he says. “It allows them to at least have some closure.”

 

He says it also helps the offender to see how their actions have affected others.

 

“So it’s not only closure for the victim,” he says. “But the offender will think about that victim the next time he thinks about making a poor choice.”

 

Probation Officer Tarah Bechthold will be coordinating the program - setting up the pre-conference and  face-to-face meetings.

 

The county introduced the program in March, so only one victim and a pair of offenders have gone through pre-conference meetings.

 

But Mabis has taken part in 20 to 25 Restorative Conferences while working in Washington County. He says there was good feedback from victims, offenders, support people and facilitators.

 

“Many said they were really glad it was offered to them. Victims said “thank you so much for taking the time to give us a chance to put some closure to this.” 

 

The program also has a benefit to the community by reducing crime. Offenders who face their victims in a conference are less likely to re-offend and more likely to follow through with restitution agreements.

 

“Some of the offenders said, “this has helped me take a look at my actions. I never want to do this again,” says Mabis. “This really affected me.”