Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

web site: http//www.akrepublicans.org
State Capitol Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
Juneau, AK 99801
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540 (907) 465-3804

JUVENILE OFFENDERS TO FACE THEIR VICTIMS

For Immediate Release: January 31, 1997 Contact: Rep. Brian Porter (907) 465-4930

JUNEAU - Legislation promoting victim restitution and juvenile/offender mediation passed out of the House Judiciary Committee Friday. HB 7 recognizes the existence of community dispute resolution centers and the program that involves juvenile offender and victim mediation.

Victim offender mediation is a process in which trained volunteer mediators bring victims and juvenile offenders face to face to discuss the property loss and emotional damage caused by the crime.

"The principal goal is to obtain an agreement between the victim and the offender on a restitution contract. Victim offender mediation is part of the larger concept of restorative justice. With this approach, offenders take personal responsibility for repairing the damage they have caused," said bill sponsor Representative Brian Porter.

"This type of mediation allows the victim to tell the juvenile offender the effect of their crime. The victim and offender face each other nose to nose across the table and the victim is able to tell the juvenile offender how their crime has affected them. This type of mediation provides much better restitution ratios then all the other types of sentences," said Porter.

Porter said HB 7 allows the Division of Youth and Family Services and the Courts to make referrals to these types of resolution centers. Porter further noted that community dispute centers currently exist in Anchorage and are soon to go statewide.

Broadcast Note: An audio actuality is available by calling 1-800-478-6540.

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