VORP, victim offender reconciliation program, brings the accused and the complainant together in mediation, with two trained community mediators. Mediation Sessions focus on dialogue rather than upon reaching a restitution agreement, facilitating empathy and understanding between the person who has harmed and the person who has been harmed.  Before beginning the session, the mediator provides ground rules to assure safety and respect.  The person who has been harmed usually speaks first, telling the accused how the crime affected him/her and may ask questions of the accused. The person who has harmed may offer an explanation and or an apology.  The complainant’s losses are discussed.  Crime is personalized as the accused learns the human consequences of their actions, and the complainant has the opportunity to speak about how the incident has affected them. The accused takes meaningful responsibility for their actions by mediating a restitution agreement with the complainant, to restore the complainant’s losses, in whatever ways that my be possible. Not all mediations will result in an agreement and mediators do not push participants to come to an agreement.

VORP youth is available to young persons aged 12-17 who have committed an offense and take responsibility for their actions surrounding the incident. The program is voluntary for all participants. Referrals to this program can be pre-charge, post-charge, and post sentence. 

The Ministry of Children and Youth Service, Youth Justice Division, provide funding for this program.