24/8/04
Victims of crime and offenders in the Midland region will now have access to a free mediation service.
Justice Minister Michelle Roberts said the Victim-offender Mediation Unit would operate from the Midland courthouse, providing impartial and private mediation for adult cases.
"Under the program, which began this week, a representative from the unit will be seated inside the court to take immediate referrals from the magistrate," Mrs Roberts said.
"The mediation program has been extremely well received. It holds offenders accountable for their crimes, while providing meaningful assistance and compensation for victims."
In the past, referrals for mediation were later followed up by the Victim-offender Mediation Unit after the court appearance. Under the new system, referrals are made directly to the officer in the court and the process starts immediately.
The Minister said the expansion to Midland would make it the 10th service to be set up since the inception of the program in May 2003.
"The program started in the Perth Court of Petty Sessions and has since expanded in the metropolitan and regional areas to include Rockingham, Mandurah, Joondalup, Bunbury, Busselton, South Hedland, Karratha and Roebourne," she said.
"More than 260 referrals have already been made to the program since it started."
Mrs Roberts said referrals had been made for a range of offences such as stealing, burglary, assault, damage, stealing as a servant and assault on a person performing a public duty.
"The outcomes have included letters from offenders explaining their actions, a payment to upgrade a victim's home security system, the return of stolen money, attempts by an offender to locate stolen goods and direct apologies," she said.
The Minister said the success of mediation was backed by international research that showed up to 90 per cent of people were satisfied with the process and the resulting outcome.
"Often victims of crime just want their questions answered," she said.
"They can voice their questions and concerns through the mediator and, for some, it provides a way for them to tell the offender about the impact the crime had on their lives."
Mrs Roberts said mediation involved a neutral person - the mediator - helping victims and offenders to reach an agreement for compensation or other agreed resolution, such as a letter of apology or the return of property.
Mediation could occur face-to-face or, more frequently, via the mediator acting as an impartial third party between the victim and the offender.
Minister's office: 9213 6600
