New victim mediation service for Fremantle

30/09/05
A free mediation service at the Fremantle Justice Complex will provide victims of crime with an alternative in dealing with the crime's impact on them.
Justice Minister John D'Orazio said the new program involved a neutral mediator helping victims and offenders reach an agreement.
Mr D'Orazio said a recent survey showed the innovative program, which already operated in 12 centres throughout the State, had proved highly successful.
"Latest figures suggest 90 per cent of victims and offenders who provided customer feedback in the survey were satisfied with the mediation process and agreed outcomes," he said.
"Referrals have been made for a range of offences including stealing, burglary, assault and damage.
"They have resulted in outcomes such as a payment to upgrade a victim's home security system, the return of stolen money and direct apologies."
The Minister said that since its introduction in May 2003, the program had seen nearly 900 referrals to mediation, involving more than 1,300 victims, and resulted in more than $135,000 of non-court ordered payments being made to victims.
"Under the program, mediation officers are seated in the court to take immediate referrals from the magistrate," he said.
"Mediation can occur face-to-face or through the mediator acting as an impartial third party between the victim and the offender.
"Referrals are only made with the consent of the victim."
The Victim-offender Mediation Unit at the Fremantle Justice Complex is the sixth metropolitan centre to operate the program, with other centres at Joondalup, Rockingham, Mandurah, Midland and Perth.
Regional centres offering the mediation service included Bunbury, Busselton, South Hedland, Karratha, Roebourne and Geraldton.
"The program will be reviewed in 2006," Mr D'Orazio said.
Minister's office: 9213 7150