Author: Laura Hourigan
During its annual planning meeting this week, TREC unanimously passed a resolution that fully supports the creation of a statewide Victim Offender Dialogue program within the Department of Adult Correction that promotes equal access to VOD throughout all North Carolina correctional facilities and community supervision programs.
The purpose of VOD is to bring together offenders and victims of a crime to provide an opportunity for them to engage in open and facilitated communication to address the harm caused, understand the impact of the offense and find ways to promote healing and resolution.
DAC Victim Support Services held two pilot Victim Offender Dialogues in 2023 and is in the process of drafting a department-wide policy for this new program. The VOD program will be initiated in 2024 after the finalization of policies and procedures, training of facilitators and DAC staff, and the implementation of a strategic statewide outreach effort.