The Heartland Center for Restorative Justice
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Mission Statement
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The Heartland Center for Restorative Justice brings together victims, offenders, and community to acknowledge accountability, build trust, and restore unity.
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The Heartland Center for Restorative Justice was developed in 2003 at the request of the justice committee from Pioneer Methodist Church in Rock Valley. This service works with victims of property and theft crimes to meet with the offenders, facilitated by trained volunteer mediators.
The purpose of the meeting between the victim and the offender is to allow each to tell their story of how the crime affected them, to put a face to the offender and the victim, and if possible, to develop a restitution plan to restore the damages incurred. When victims and offenders meet, restitution is agreed upon, and the personal side of the crime is experienced allowing healing to take place with the victim and the offender. An outcome of this meeting can result in the victim forgiving the offender.
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Mediation: What Is It?
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Victim Offender Mediation allows individuals directly affected by Crime to actively participate in dealing with the consequences of the crime.
A mediator is assigned to each case to assist all parties in teh mediation process.
The goal of the process is for the parties most affected to have an opportunity to discuss:
~What happened
~How it felt when it happened
~Why it happened
~How if feels now, and
~What is needed for restitution
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What Is Restitution?
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In Victim Offender Mediation, restitution means:
~The offender contracts to repay a cash amount to replace the victim's out of pocket losses
~Doing community service or personal service work or any creative plan agreed upon by both parties.
Restoring harmony, discovering truth, increasing safety and ending intolerable behavior is usually the goal. Agreements focus on peacemaking behaviors.
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Why Would Anyone Want To Do This?
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Mediation can bring peace of mind and a sense of restoration to all parties.
Participation is voluntary!
Victims often report loss as more than what can be measured by material goods or financial cost. Emotional harm is not dealt with in criminal court. Most victims want to ask questions about the crime, or to talk about its emotional impact. Some may want to meet to see if they have reasons to fear the offender in the future.
Offenders don’t learn about the human cost of their actions in court settings. The mediation process allows a time and place where they can learn how they have harmed the victim.
Offenders also learn to accept responsibility. They provide answers to the victim’s questions, they have a say about what they will do to make things right again.
Victim Offender Mediation is Restorative Justice at Work.
As victims hold offenders accountable and offenders take responsibility for their actions, both begin the healing process.
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How Does This Work?
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Before mediation, the mediator meets with all the parties individually, listens to each person tell how they were affected by what happened, explains the program, and if everyone agrees, arranges for the mediation meeting. Participation in Mediation is ALWAYS Voluntary! During the meeting, the mediator sets the rules, ensures the process is safe and fair for all involved, and where necessary, helps the parties work out a restitution agreement.
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What Is A Mediator?
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A mediator acts in a neutral manner. They are present to help others communicate. Mediator do not take sides or make decisions for anyone. Mediators are skilled in the mediation process. Mediators are good listeners who are respectful and are bound by confidentiality rules.
Mediators do not takes sides
Mediators do not impose agreements
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Why Are Cases Referred For Conferencing?
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Cases are referred when the court, school, or law enforcement, believe the individuals involved in the situation will benefit directly from having an opportunity to speak directly with one another.
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What Does A Mediator Do?
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Mediators make arrangements, provide safety, facilitate, and assist parties with the mediation process.
When a case is referred for mediation, a mediator will:
~Call to set separate meeting with each person
~Clarify the status of the case
~Explain communication rules, confidentiality and mediation process
~Listen as each person tells what happened and ask how each feels about it
~Make all scheduling arrangements
~Facilitate the mediation
~Make sure everyone is respectful
~Insure that all participants have uninterrupted time to speak
~Write a contract that all agree is fair and attainable
~Provide each party with a copy of the agreement if one is reached
~Monitor the agreement through completion
Mediators help people in difficult situations to meet and talk with each other.
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Everyone Benefits When Conferencing Works
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Victims are heard, and understood. They experience satisfaction in planning compensation for their loss.
Offenders learn the real cost of their crimes and begin to take responsibility for their actions.
The Community benefits as the conflicts are resolved and the skills in conflict resolution are expanded creating safer, healthier places in which to live.
The Court has a community alternative for dealing with offenders.
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Contact Information
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Doug Smitt
Director of Children's & Family Services
Telephone: 712-476-3162
Cell: 712-470-1810
Email address: dsmit@hopehaven.org
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