Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) Program

Involving a meeting between the person who caused the harm and the person who was harmed, VOD provides parties an opportunity to talk about what happened, discuss the harms, and ways to make things as right as possible. 

VODs are facilitated by a trained volunteer who acts as a neutral party. Our program is available in all of San Diego County, is free of charge and is completely confidential. 

Dialogue can be a diversion option for cases where both parties are seeking a restorative alternative and the court allows it. In 2019, RJMP signed an MOU with the San Diego County Juvenile District Attorney’s office that allows the VOD program to serve as a diversion option in certain juvenile cases. 

 

  • Juveniles and adults with pending criminal cases at any stage of the court process.

    Victims of crime who wish to have a mediation with the person who caused the crime.

  • Our program accepts referrals for most types of crimes including misdemeanors and felonies.

    Each case is evaluated individually to determine if the VOD process is appropriate.

    Cases must have identifiable harms, and those harms must have been caused by a known person.

    Cases in which a restorative intervention may be beneficial to the parties or where there is an ongoing relationship that needs restoring.

    VOD meetings are strictly confidential and protected by CA mediation laws.

  • Yes, community members can submit a referral for cases in which there is an ongoing dispute or conflict that could benefit from mediation or a restorative intervention. Parties involved in the conflict must be willing to participate in the process.

    Each case will be evaluated by a case manager to determine if it is eligible for this program.

  • A dialogue allows both parties to come to an agreement on how to make things as right as possible, this can include restitution, community service, direct service, etc.

    In cases where there is restitution, an agreement can address payment plans.

    In diversion cases, an agreement between the parties can take the place of a court order, upon completion of the terms the court may choose to dismiss the case.

  • Stakeholders in the criminal justice system can make a referral including Public Defenders, District Attorneys, Probation Officers, Law enforcement, etc.

    Service providers at other non-profits or organizations that serve the community such as case managers that identify cases that could benefit from a VOD.

    Community members that identify a situation that has not risen to the level of criminality but that could benefit from a mediation to restore relationships or solve a conflict. For example, ongoing neighbor disputes.

  • For more information on our VOD program please Contact Us, or email our Director of Programs, Xiani Williams, at xwilliams@sdrjmp.org.

  • ¿Por qué participar en DOV?

    Un acuerdo restaurativo responsabiliza a los que han causado daños y las comunidades de tomar medidas activas para reparar los daños y abordar las causas del crimen.

    Brinda responsabilidad directa al involucrar a la persona que causó el daño en el proceso de arreglar las cosas lo mejor que se pueda.

    Permite a las víctimas participar en el proceso y hacer preguntas a la person que les causo daño.

    Puede ser una alternativa al proceso penal.

    Brinda la opción de abordar el daño: esto puede incluir restitución, servicio comunitario, servicio directo, etc.

    ¿Tiene preguntas? Favor de llamar a nuestra oficina al 619-280-1993.

 


Why Participate in VOD?

A restorative agreement holds offenders and communities accountable to take active steps to repair harms and address underlying causes.

  • Provides direct accountability by involving the person who caused the harm in the process of making things as right as possible.

  • Allows victims to have a voice in the process and ask questions to the offender.

  • Can be an alternative to the court process as a diversion option.