Forgiveness in the Wake of Severe Violence

In the wake of severe violence, some extraordinary victims seek a direct en­counter with their transgressor. Facilitated Victim-Offender Dialogues (VOD) are a restorative justice intervention designed to provide such an awesome existential encounter. This research project examined the experiences of five adults who participated in a VOD and who came to forgive their transgressors. Their stories are viewed through the qualitative research methodology known as narrative analysis. The resultant themes are compared to the dominant narratives, counter narratives, and emerging narratives found in the VOD and forgiveness research corpus. Implications for future research and practice recommendations are offered. This research is intended for lay persons and professionals interested in restorative justice, VOD, violence, forgiveness, and narrative analysis.