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Advanced Victim Offender Dialogue: Cases Involving Sexual Assault

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has developed a nationally recognized training program that prepares experienced Victim-Offender Dialogue Facilitators with the knowledge and skills required to facilitate cases involving sexual assault. Participants will learn NIC is committed to strengthening the field of corrections by ensuring that agencies are equipped with the training, tools, and resources necessary to deliver post-conviction victim services effectively. This training course will expand the capacity of state corrections agencies to meet victims' needs, foster healing, and enable victims to actively participate in repairing the harm caused to them.

Learning Objectives, Goals, and Takeaways
  • Distinguish between different types of sexual assaults and what these categories mean for potential victim impacts and offender behaviors.
  • Appreciate the unique victim impacts of sexual assault.
  • Distinguish between different offender attributes including psychopathy vs sociopathy and antisocial behavior.
  • Recognize and have skills to address offender coercive control behaviors.
  • Be able to address cognitive errors in offender thinking, with the goal of helping that offender better achieve the victims' goals for the dialogue and to reduce the potential for harm.
Phases of the program (if applicable)

The course is divided into three phases. The first two are provided by NIC and the third is provided by the sponsoring agency. 

  1. One 3-hour virtual instructor-led training sessions.
  2. Three days (24-hours) in-person training.
  3. State specific laws, policies, regulations, on-the-job training, and mentorship.
Target Audience

VOD facilitation in cases involving sexual offenses requires highly specialized skills and is not suited for everyone. Effective facilitators demonstrate deep empathy, humility, and strong interpersonal awareness, along with exceptional listening and communication abilities. They must be able to engage in conversations involving severe harm, complex trauma, and intense emotions with steadiness and respect. Experience working with victims/survivors of sexual crimes, as well as with individuals who have committed sexual offenses, is especially valuable. An ideal facilitator understands the profound impact of sexual violence and supports participants in a trauma‑informed, grounded, and emotionally resilient manner.

Here are just a few examples of the backgrounds of past VOD trainees:

  • Current VOD Facilitators
  • Survivors
  • Victim Service Providers
  • Therapists
  • Department of Corrections Victim Services personnel
  • Laity-faith based
  • Probation & Parole Officers (adult and juvenile)
  • Correctional Officers (adult and juvenile)
  • Community Reentry Team members (adult and juvenile)
  • Justice-specialized court staff
  • Mediators
  • Interested community members

Course/Program Type
Hybrid
Field of Corrections
Prisons
Program Format

This training includes a combination of one 3-hour day of synchronous virtual (online) instructor‑led session, inter-session asynchronous assignments, and three days of in‑person instruction. Full participation in all components of the program is required.

Prerequisites

Participants must have completed the NIC VOD Training for Facilitator Course or comparable training that aligns with the VOD Essential Principles Standards. In addition, participants must currently work with, or plan to work with, a state corrections agency that offers post‑conviction Victim‑Offender Dialogues. Eligibility also requires verification from the agency’s Victim Services Director confirming your affiliation. The sponsoring agency must also agree to provide training on state‑specific laws, policies, and regulations, as well as on‑the‑job training and mentorship.

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