Purpose:

This policy is intended to specify policies and procedures that affect all operations of the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program of Boulder County as related to victims and services to victims. This written policy is also a resource for staff members to clarify their understanding of what VORP intends for victims and the services provided for them.
 
The standards, rules, and personnel policies as outlined in this policy are not intended to place unreasonable restrictions on any employee but are necessary for the efficient, professional and orderly conduct of VORP’s business.

VORP reserves the right to interpret, change, modify, amend, suspend, or cancel in whole or in part any of the contents of this policy. In the spirit of consensus and teamwork, the Board of Directors will attempt to inform employees of any such changes prior to implementation. However, the Board reserves the right to implement such changes without prior notice if deemed necessary for the successful operation of the program

Policy:
Treatment: VORP believes that victims of crimes deserve to be treated with respect, their concerns and complaints heard and their requests for restitution honored. Though VORP cannot compel any client to fulfill these requests, VORP will present all requests from victims to offenders and encourage compliance. 
Safety: VORP believes that victims and all clients deserve to feel safe in dealing with the aftermath of any crime.  VORP will create safe and empowering environments for victims and clients. VORP will quickly separate any client from a situation that even appears to present a danger to the victim, their supporters or other clients.
Always Two Facilitators: To provide sufficient resources to assure the safety of victims, clients and volunteers of VORP, no activity of VORP will be conducted with fewer than two VORP volunteers and / or staff members.  If for any reason two VORP representatives are not present, the activity must be canceled and rescheduled unless specifically authorized by the Executive Director.
No Re-victimization: Re-victimization is unacceptable. Safety is one aspect of ensuring that no victim (or client) is victimized again. This requires exceptional diligence and sensitivity. VORP will carefully review every interaction requested by any party to determine if it has the potential to harm or reduce the feeling of safety of the victim or any VORP client. VORP will stop any interaction that harms or might potentially harm any victim or other client. VORP will not be a party to any action that harms or might potentially harm any client. VORP will take positive steps to assure safety and avoid re-victimization. This includes (but not limited to):

1. Treating each and every victim and client with utmost respect. Listening with compassion and looking for opportunities to provide closure and restitution that can reconcile victims and clients with their families, the community and others. This will take priority over all other concerns with the exception of safety.
2. Offering victims the opportunity to invite supporters to attend VORP sessions with them.
3. Meeting with offenders, supporters and victims in advance to assure that each client can conduct themselves appropriately in VORP processes and will not jeopardize a safe and empowering process. Should it be impossible for all parties to attend a session together, shuttle mediation or other methods for two-way communication through VORP will be offered to assure that the victim’s voice is heard.
4. Scheduling VORP appointments such that it is not possible for unsupervised interaction between victims and offenders prior to any VORP process and afterward if warranted.
5. Not forwarding any letter, e-mail, phone message or other communication that seems to have any threat or implication that reduces a sense of safety for the victim or other client.
6. Recognizing that no process or procedure can be perfect, checking in with the victim to be sure that communications are supportive and conducive to a feeling of safety and empowerment.
7. Not revealing information that might be used to locate a victim or any participant in a VORP process or communicate with them in any way without VORP’s intercession.
8. Keeping individual discussions with victims and clients confidential unless given specific permission to reveal specific content excluding mandated reporting.
9. Keeping the content of discussions between the victim and offender (and others) confidential unless given permission to reveal specific content, except for mandated reporting and the resulting restitution contract.
10. Assuring that every VORP volunteer is competent and capable of fulfilling this policy before they assist in a VORP program session.
11. Not directly offering to victims, checks or other forms of payment that may be dishonored but rather shielding victims from this possibility.
12. Leaving each and every victim and client feeling that VORP has given them a safe and appropriate place to ask the questions they need to ask, make the requests they need to make, and get the satisfaction and closure that they seek.

Priority is Seeking Closure for the Victim: VORP will always seek to find ways to assist victims in finding closure.  Helping victims feel empowered in their community and in control of their lives is key to the success of VORP processes.

Responsibilities:

1. Board of Directors – will monitor this policy to ensure compliance.  The Board will accept complaints and suggestions related to compliance. The Board will use its connections to suggest changes to programs and new programs that might better address VORP’s intentions regarding victims including this policy.
2. Executive Director – will monitor this policy with respect to agency and staff actions and intentions to ensure compliance. The Executive Director will accept complaints and suggestions related to agency or individual compliance. The Executive Director will develop and maintain procedures that are successful in addressing the intention of VORP’s victim advocacy and services policy in current programs and create new programs to fulfill needs that VORP perceives in the community.
3. Staff and volunteers – will monitor their own intentions and actions and ensure their own compliance. They will make suggestions and complaints when they see potential or actual non-compliant actions or intentions.