Acknowledgments

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) would like to offer special thanks to authors Mark S. Umbreit, Ph.D., Director, and Jean Greenwood, M.Div., former Training Coordinator, of the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking (formerly the Center for Restorative Justice & Mediation), School of Social Work, University of Minnesota. We also appreciate the contributions of research assistants Claudia Fercello, M.S.W., and Jenni Umbreit, B.A.

We recognize the valuable contribution of the members of the Board of Directors of the Victim-Offender Mediation Association (VOMA), who played a critical role in offering thoughts about the survey and providing the VOMA mailing list, which was the foundation of the national survey of programs. We thank the many program staff members who took the time to participate in the Center's phone interviews about victim-offender mediation policies and practices. Also, we would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by Robert Schug, Administrative Aide at the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking, who spent many hours preparing the document and responding to numerous requests for draft copies.

This project also benefited greatly from the contributions, guidance, and support of Susan Laurence, the Project Manager at OVC. This Restorative Justice and Mediation Collection is the result of the efforts of many individuals in the field who generously shared their materials and experiences with the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking so that victims may be provided additional options in the process of healing.