What are the four steps of Victim Offender Mediation (VOM)?

• A. Intake / Preparation / Mediation session / Post session
• B. Referral / Intake / Mediation / Follow-up
• C. Screening / Planning / Mediation / Closure
• D. Referral / Preparation / Mediation / Evaluation

Answer: (A)

Victim Offender Mediation follows a logical flow that prepares everyone, enables the actual dialogue, and ensures the outcomes are supported afterward. The four steps are intake, preparation, the mediation session, and post-session follow-up.

Intake gathers essential information, confirms eligibility and consent, explains the process, and sets initial expectations and boundaries. Preparation then gets everyone ready for the meeting: clarifying goals, reviewing safety considerations, establishing ground rules, and coordinating logistics so the mediation can proceed smoothly. The mediation session is the core meeting where the victim expresses the harm they experienced, the offender takes responsibility, and a restorative plan—such as accountability or restitution—begins to take shape. Post-session follow-up focuses on what was agreed, ensuring it is implemented, offering needed resources, and checking on outcomes to support long-term resolution.

The other options mix elements like referral, screening, planning, closure, or evaluation, which are not the standard four-step sequence used in VOM. The emphasis here is on the concrete progression from initial contact through preparation and the actual meeting to ongoing follow-up.