Confidentiality in Victim Offender Mediation: A False Promise

The intent of the article is to provide the framework by which victim offender programs can delve into the complexities of mediation confidentiality and avert potential disaster. First, a foundation is needed to explain the philosophical goals of restorative justice, the VOM process, and mediation as it relates to restorative justice. With that background, areas that are likely to spark confidentiality concerns will be discussed as will exemplary confidentiality statutes, cases, and the Uniform Mediation Act. By carving a path of awareness through this previously unexplored topic as it relates to VOM, there will be less likelihood of false promises about confidentiality being made to the detriment of VOM programs