VORP History

The very first attempts at what was to become VORP occurred in the mid 1970s in Elkhart, Indiana and Kitchener, Ontario. The first program was established in Kitchener in 1976 followed by the first U.S. program in Elkhart in 1978. Since 1982 Victim Offender Reconciliation Program of the Central Valley has been bringing victims and offenders together in safe mediation or family group conference settings to permit the offender to take responsibility for his or her actions, to make things as right as possible with the victim, and to be clear about future intentions. VORP follows up to ensure that agreements are kept.

In 1990 there were 150 victim offender mediation programs in the U.S. and Canada. Now there are more than 1,200 world-wide.

VORP of the Central Valley Executive Directors:

• Ron Claassen, Founder, 1982-1999
• Jay Griffith, 1999-2002
• Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, 2002-2007
• Noelle Daoudian 2007-2012
• Tim Nightingale 2012-2015
• Seya Lumeya 2015-

Since September 9, 2002 VORP was administered by the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies of Fresno Pacific University, transitioning to the Community Justice Center in 2020. For information about VORP in Fresno today please contact:

Community Justice Center

Updated June 6, 2021 by Webmaster.

For information about VORP in Fresno today please contact:

Community Justice Center