Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) Study
University of Cincinnati

Purpose
The objective of this study is to examine the implementation, operation, and efficacy of post-conviction, in-prison Victim Offender Dialogue/Mediation (VOD) programs wherein victims and perpetrators of crime are brought together for a mediated conversation.

This page is for the first phase of the study which will conduct a national survey of prison-based VOD programs to determine how many programs exist, their participation requirements, standard operating procedures, and extent of program participation.

Objectives

1. Create a comprehensive database of in-prison adult VOD programs in the United States
2. Determine what other restorative and/or victim-centered programs exist in adult prisons in the United States
3. Conduct a systematic literature review about adult in-prison VOD programs and their history
4. Publication of a scholarly paper in a leading journal on the current state of adult in-prison VOD and other restorative and victim-centered programs in the United States

Research Team
Please contact a member of the research team with any questions or concerns you may have. Our email addresses are listed below.

• Dr. Audrey Hickert, PhD – Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati – hickerao@ucmail.uc.edu
• Jonathan Morgan, MBA, MSCJ – Dean’s Fellow and PhD Student – morga3jj@mail.uc.edu
• Malaya Castillo – Research Assistant – castilmg@mail.uc.edu

General contact information:

• Phone: (513) 556-5850
• Address: 2610 University Circle, 650F Teachers-Dyer Complex, Cincinnati, OH 45221

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval
This study has been approved by the University of Cincinnati Institutional Review Board (IRB) #2025-0088 for non-human research.
Click here for a PDF of the IRB approval.

A Note on Terminology
The researchers recognize that the terms “victim” and “offender” can be stigmatizing or retraumatizing. These labels remain the most commonly used within correctional systems and related programming. Accordingly, this study uses the terms “victim” and “offender” for consistency and clarity, while also acknowledging that some programs and practitioners use alternative language such as “person who was harmed” or “harmed person” and “person who caused harm.”

Programmatic Data Requested Only
This study does not collect any individual-level data. It seems to explore the current state of adult VOD programs in state and federal correctional facilities.

We are requesting information regarding your state’s implementation of restorative justice programming for incarcerated adults. Specifically, we are interested in learning whether your department currently offers, supports, or partners in the delivery of victim-offender dialogue programs within adult correctional facilities, the extent of participation in the program, and any program requirements.

Participation in this research involves only sharing programmatic information and does not require the disclosure of any personal or confidential data. Your insight would be invaluable in helping to develop a national picture of restorative justice practices in adult corrections.

 Requested Data
If this is your first time visiting this page, please click here to review a PDF of requested data prior to entering it in the form below.

Data Entry
The form to submit the requested data is below. This study uses Airtable, which is a secure and HIPAA-compliant data and project management platform. Information entered in this form will be entered directly into the secure Airtable database. If you are more comfortable completing the fillable PDF and emailing it to morga3jj@mail.uc.edu.

You can download a copy of the fillable PDF by clicking here. or open the form in a new window by clicking here.