Frequently Asked Questions about
Victim Offender Dialogues
What is a Victim Offender Dialogue?
The Victim Offender Dialogue is a well prepared and fully facilitated, confidential dialogue between the harmed person and the (often) incarcerated person responsible for the harm. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Office of Victim Services offers dialogues for persons incarcerated in any CDCR State Prison. The nature of crimes ranges from sexual harm, property crimes, to assault and murder.
Questions about VOD Participants
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Who gets to participate in dialogue?
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Why do kin of victims and survivors choose to participate in VODs?
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Why do people responsible for harm choose to participate in VODs? Who else is present?
Questions about the VOD Process
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What about confidentiality?
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How long does the process take?
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Do I have to forgive the person who harmed me?
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Can participation change the release status of the responsible party?
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What if I find that, after starting the VOD process, I don’t want to continue with it?
Logistical Questions
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Where will the preparation meetings take place?
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Where will the actual dialogue take place?
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What about travel cost?