VORP - Victim Offender Reconciliation Program

  The Better Business Bureau is partnering with the Kern County Superior Court to help divert teenagers from a life of crime.  The new Victim Offender Reconciliation Program begins July 1, 2011 and offers first time teenage offenders an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice program.

In VORP, the offender meets with their victim(s) and a trained mediator to talk about how to right the wrong that they committed.  Both parties contribute to a plan for restitution and/or community service.  The VORP program oversees the implementation of the plan and congratulates the teen upon their completion of their commitment.  The victim is made as whole as possible without having to initiate a lawsuit to recover their losses.

The purpose of the program is to repair damage done to the community and help the youth focus on a positive and productive future.  There are over 400 VORP programs currently operating in the United States and the results are very encouraging for all involved.

Oftentimes after a crime has occurred, the victim feels violated and vulnerable to future crime.  The VORP process allows the victim to vent some of these feelings, ask questions to bring closure, and gives the offender an opportunity to reassure the victim that they do not plan to continue this type of behavior.

Kern VORP is currently actively seeking Spanish speaking interpreters to help with phone contacts to explain the program to Spanish speaking parents.  Beginning this fall, we will be looking for volunteers who would like to be trained as VORP mediators.  If you would like to learn more about VORP, volunteer opportunities or VORP training, you can contact Marisol Aguirre at 661-616-5254 or at marisol@cencal.bbb.org.