We are not always afforded a second chance, but juvenile criminal offenders have a shot at one through Chattanooga's Victim Offender Reconciliation Program.
"We all have to learn things," said VORP Chattanooga Executive Director Jennifer Paden. "We don't all have the advantage of having parental guidance."
Van Colucci, Jennifer Paden and Janet Perfetti, from left, are not only employees of Chattanooga's Victim Offender Reconciliation Program, they are also proponents.VORP provides the opportunity for the offender and victim to meet face-to-face over the dealings of a crime, often a misdemeanor theft less than $500, as long as the offender does not have a history of addictions or weapon usage.
The victim realizes the minor is not some beastly imagined character, while the offender learns how negative behavior affects the other person, Paden said.
East Brainerd resident Janet Perfetti has personally seen this mutual understanding occur many times. She uses her family-mediator background as a VORP facilitator.
"This whole program is based on the concept of restorative justice," Perfetti said. "Rather than focusing on punishment, it's about restoring the person in the community as a non-offender. It is a great opportunity for someone to get their life back on track. When these offenders meet the victims, it puts a face on the victim and the situation. It humanizes the crime."
The entire situation creates a win-win environment. The second chances offered can save a life from repeated criminal actions, which saves tax dollars.
"We are the only act in town that will put the victim face-to-face with the offender," Paden said. "Taking alternative routes create huge savings. Think of the hundreds of dollars spent each day by putting a child through a standard legal process."
The public can support VORP though donations and volunteering as facilitators.
To learn more about becoming a VORP facilitator, contact Jennifer Paden at 605-3725 or Janet Perfetti at 505-5567.