Beliefs about Victim‐Offender Conferences: Factors Influencing Victim‐Offender Engagement

Abstract

Victim-off ender conferences provide victims an opportunity to pursue their justice goals while talking directly with their off ender. Although research on victims' conference participation willingness is growing, it has tended to neglect the infl uence of context factors. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, the study reported in this article elicited beliefs about justice goals, emotions, perceived support, and external control beliefs related to intent to participate in a victim-off ender conference. Analysis indicated that beliefs about justice goals, anticipated emotions, social support, and behavior control infl uence conference participation willingness. Th e article identifi es implications for research and practice regarding restorative justice and conference participation.

Receptivity to restorative justice: A survey of goal importance, process effectiveness, and support for victim–offender conferencing

“…Such socialization raises the question about the relative importance people place on offender-related outcomes such as apologizing and victim-related outcomes such as information sharing. For example, Paul and Schenck-Hamlin (2017) found that people generally feel that youth who commit an offense should be punished and that victims should receive restitution. Likewise, Hansen and Umbreit (2018) assert that victims typically bring justice-related expectations and goals into mediation sessions.…”

“…Based on previous research, participants were asked to rate the importance of five outcomes: (a) preventing the offender from committing another offense in the future (Latimer et al, 2005); (b) learning, growing, and maturing (Borton & Paul, 2015;Wenzel et al, 2008); (c) paying restitution for the damage they caused (Shapland et al, 2006); (d) experiencing punishment and negativity for their actions (Barton, 1999;Paul & Schenck-Hamlin, 2017); and (e) apologizing to their victims (Bolívar et al, 2013). Based on exploratory factor analysis, preventing recidivism and facilitating learning were grouped into a single variable with sufficient reliability (α = 0.71) of helping offenders experience restoration by getting on a better path, thereby creating four offender outcomes.…”

“…From a research perspective, there is work to be done understanding the sources of the importance people assign to justice goals. For example, what are the socialization practices that influence prioritization of justice goals (Paul & Borton, 2017;Paul & Schenck-Hamlin, 2017)? How is prioritization of justice goals associated with cultural values, norms, and beliefs?…”

“…Responsiveness to existing public attitudes toward RJ is a first step toward effective education and advocacy. Research has explored public attitudes toward RJ generally, restorative processes specifically, and openness to participating in restorative processes (e.g., Ahlin, Gibbs, Kavanaugh, & Lee, 2017;Bazemore & Leip, 2000;Paul, 2015;Paul & Schenck-Hamlin, 2017;Roberts & Stalans, 2004). Such attitudes can influence behavior (Ajzen, 2011), are connected with other attitudes (Perloff, 2010), and are rooted in prior cultural socialization (Okimoto, Wenzel, & Feather, 2009;Paul & Borton, 2017).…”

Toward a Communication Perspective of Restorative Justice: Implications for Research, Facilitation, and Assessment

“…Additionally, how does socialization influence these definitions? As noted above, desiring to see the wrongdoer suffer punishment is a common response to offensive behavior (Aquino et al., ; Paul & Schenck‐Hamlin, ). Such a response reflects “just world beliefs” that people should “get what they deserve” (Lerner, ; Strelan, ).…”