STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR VICTIM/OFFENDER CONFERENCING PROGRAM (VOC)

1. Within one week of receiving a referral, the Director (case manager assigned) will: contact the referral source to confirm all information received; create a file; send out appropriate forms, and assign the case to facilitators. A facilitator will need to pick up the file at the Restorative Justice office.

2. Two facilitators are assigned to each case; the facilitators decide among themselves who will make initial contacts, etc; however, pre-conference meetings and conferencing will be done together. Each facilitator will log time spent on the case.

3. A facilitator will contact the referral source to introduce his or her self and let them know the case is proceeding. This is done immediately upon receiving the case.

4. A facilitator will contact the victim and offender within one week of sending the introductory letters to set up a pre-conference meeting if the victim/offender is willing. These can be done simultaneously. If this is a predisposition case, then within two days of sending the letter.

5. If no other pre-conference meetings are necessary and the victim and offender are willing and appropriate for a conference, the facilitator will finalize arrangements within one week including scheduling a meeting space; advising the Director of the conference and any special needs of the parties; and communicating the information to the parties. The conference should take place within two weeks of the final pre-conference with the offender.

6. The facilitators will write out any agreements that are reached by the parties and ask for signatures. If there are copying facilities available, all parties should receive a copy of the agreement. If not, then the agreement is included in the case file and the Director (case manager) will copy and send out agreements to all parties, as directed by the facilitator.

7. The victim, offender, and facilitators are asked to complete a questionnaire following the conference (this is voluntary). If no conference is held, only the facilitators fill out a questionnaire.

8. A facilitator sends/delivers to the office: case file(s), parties' agreement(s), questionnaires, completed log sheets, etc. The entire contents of the case file including the case file itself are returned to the office.

9. The Director (case manager) sends a closure letter to the referral source, and copies of all agreements to all parties, within two weeks of closing the case.