The Victim/Offender Mediation Program (VOM) has been in existence since 1996 serving victims, offenders and the community in certain victim related offenses. The program serves Brown County and surrounding counties by request. A face-to-face meeting between victims and offenders helps to reduce victim trauma, humanize the criminal justice process, to increase offender accountability, provide restitution, create opportunities for reconciliation between the victim and the offender, enhance community understanding of crime and criminal justice, break down stereotypes, and, in combination with other sanctions, reduce reliance on conventional punishment.