victim-offender mediation (vom) in case of adult offenders in hungary

Victim-offender mediation (VOM) in case of adult offenders in Hungary

Edit TRZS, Hungarian Office of JusticeEuropean Best Practices of Restorative Justices in the Criminal Procedure Conference, Budapest, 27-29 April 2009

Legal frameworkEuropean Council Framework Decision of 15 March 2001 on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings (2001/220/JHA)

The National Strategy of Community Crime Prevention

Law 2006/LI. on the modification of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Criminal Code concerning the introduction of the mediation in criminal matters

Law 2006/CXXIII. on mediation in criminal cases (Mediation Act)

Decrees (on the special tasks concerning the procedure of mediation in criminal proceedings, on the professional requirements concerning mediators working with penal cases)

Conditions of application of VOMVOM is applicable in cases of juveniles and adults too.

Conditions:crimes against person, orcrimes against property, ortraffic offencesif the maximum penalty possible not exceed 5 years imprisonment

BUT the VOM is not applicable:If the act caused deathIf the perpetrator was special or multiple recidivistIn case of organised crimeIf the perpetrator was under the term of another sanction

Percentage of the 3 types of crimes in 2007

Diagram4

695

1369

387

hatrozatok megoszlsa

Hatrozatok rkezse

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptember

Court2636555487111901944

Public prosecutor102562659816413293128

hatrozatok megoszlsa

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

Court

Public prosecutor

bncselekmnymegoszls

Traffic offences695

Crime against property1369

Crimes against person387

bncselekmnymegoszls

Who and when refer a case to mediationPublic prosecutor ex officio, or upon the request of the accused, the defense attorney or the victim Diversionary effect

Judge upon the request of the accused, the defense attorney or the victim (no ex officio)In the pre-sentence phase until the sentence on the first instance

Conditions examined by the referring bodythe offender confessed during the course of investigation;

the offender has agreed and is able to compensate the victim or to provide any other form of restitution;

the offender and the victim agreed to participate in the mediation proceedings, and

in view of the nature of the crime, the way it was committed and the offenders personal circumstances, court proceedings are not required, or there is substantial reason to believe that the court will take into account the offenders contrition as a mitigating circumstances (Criminal Procedure Act, art. 221/A (3))

Who can act as a mediator in criminal cases?

Specially trained probation officers 70 officersFrom July of 2008, trained attorneys too 40 attorneys

Training requirements for mediators

1. Basic techniques of mediation (practice) 60 hours

2. Theory of mediation 90 hourse.g. Practice in other countries, restorative justice philosophy, legal regulations concerning VOM, administration duties, code of practice, victimology

3. Participation in the mentoring system and case group meetings

Procedure of mediation in criminal casesAfter hearing the offender and the victim, and having their consent, the public prosecutor or the judge can order the suspension of the criminal procedure and refer the case to mediation.(length of suspension of the criminal procedure is up to 6 months)After receipt of the above mentioned order, the mediator contacts the offender and the victim. Within 15 days it is obligatory to arrange a date for the first meeting, and invite the parties to it.

1.

Mediation between the offender and the victim takes place. When they have reached an accord on the form and details of the restitution (at the end of the meeting, or after several meetings), the mediator edits the document of agreement which will be signed by him and by the parties.Fulfillment of the agreement.This date (or the fulfillment of the first installment) means the legal end of the VOM, although the mediator has further tasks to do.2.

In 15 days after the closure of the VOM, the mediator sends a report to the prosecutor or judge on the procedure, and also sends the agreement to him. After the VOM proceeding, the mediator looks after the fulfillment of the obligations described in the agreement. If the offender doesnt perform his/her obligations or the victims behavior hinders the fulfillment, the mediator report this to the prosecutor or judge.The prosecutor or judge decides about the application of voluntary restitution article of the Criminal Code.3.

Some other important characteristics of VOM in HungaryThere are no cases when the referral to mediation is obligatory

It is a free service for the parties

Method used is direct mediation with the participation of the offender and the victim

Legal entity also can be a victim

Any form of restitution is accepted that are not against the law or public morals (apology, compensation, reparation of the harms caused, or an undertaking to participate in any treatment or other programme)

Effects of the successful mediation on the criminal procedure

Successful: only when the agreement had been completely fulfilled

Effect: Application of the voluntary restitution article (art. 36.) of the Criminal Code:

In case of adult offenders:If the crime was punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years, the criminal procedure may be terminated.If the crime was punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years the punishment may be reduced by the judge without limitation.

Number of cases referred to mediation in 2007 and 20082007 2.451 cases (adults: 2.152)2008 2.976 cases (adults: 2.621)

Rise: 21%

In the percentage of indictments:2007 1,2%2008 1,5%

Rise: 25%

Percentage of cases received from referring bodies in 2008

Diagram6

545

2449

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

1. flvjanurfebrurmrciusprilismjusjniussszesFKsszessszes

felntt kor2862502272401791811363Brsg3268334Brsg334

fiatalkor263628291639174gyszsg10371661203gyszsg1203

2. flvjliusaugusztusszeptemberoktbernovemberdecembersszesFelnttFKsszessszes

felntt kor262148202225228211Brsg19555250Brsg250

fiatalkor361929222650gyszsg10971501247gyszsg1247

MegyeFiatalkorFelntt korSSZFiatalkorFelntt korSSZFiatalkorFelntt korSSZ

Baranya18105123288611446191237

Bcs-Kiskun38083156574136140

Bks439432333567278

B-A-Z2574998839133157190

Csongrd208410415567135140175

Fejr467716717710138148

Fvros232222452317920246401447

Gy-M-S6253152328114859

Hajd-Bihar35861485897143150

Heves26769746539113122

J-N-Sz1169807576418126144

K-E3475005151398101

Ngrd016163182133437

Pest271611882816819655329384

Somogy14041774818114122

Sz-Sz-B040403515439194

Tolna8293732730115667

Vas343460252536871

Veszprm12778910627222139161

Zala020200353505555

FNFKsszesFNFKsszesFNFKsszes

megllapods teljestse [Bktv. 15. (1) a) s c)]8281269547269882415542241778Megllapods ltrejtt2286

teljests ellenrzsnek befejezdse megvalsult megllapodssal [Bktv. 15. (1) b)]122111331352215725733290Nem szletett megllapods550

teljests ellenrzsnek befejezdse nem teljestett megllapodssal [Bktv. 15. (1) b)]97910673138617022192

vdemels elhalasztsra kerlt sor7071721924226Megllapods teljeslt206890.5

srtett nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]734776997814213155Megllapods nem teljeslt1928.4

terhelt nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]455503333678886Vdemels elhalasztsa261.1

mindkt fl nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]321331721949352

idzs kzbesthetetlen [Bktv. 15. (1) d)]81941512214

srtett vagy terhelt elhunyt [Bktv. 15. (1) e)]404505909

a terhelt nyilatkozatbl megllapthat, hogy a Be. 221/A. (3) b) vagy c) pontjban rt felttelek nem llnak fenn [Bktv. 15. (1) h)]39544641651036109

az els kzvetti megbeszlstl szmtott 3 hnap eredmnytelenl eltelt [Bktv. 15. (1) i)]151161131426430

eredmnytelensg egyb okbl362383063666874

illetkessgbl trtn tttel1701731420121

janurfebrurmrciusprilismjusjniusjliusaugusztusszeptemberoktbernovemberdecembersszes

felnttkor2862502272401791812621482022252282112639

fiatal kor263628291639361929222650356

FiatalkorFelntt kor

Baranya46191

Bcs-Kiskun4136

Bks672

B-A-Z33157

Csongrd35140

Fejr10138

Fvros46401

Gy-M-S1148

Hajd-Bihar7143

Heves9113

J-N-Sz18126

K-E398

Ngrd334

Pest55329

Somogy8114

Sz-Sz-B391

Tolna1156

Vas368

Veszprm22139

Zala055

Judge545

Prosecutor2449

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

2008-ban szletett megllapodsok megoszlsa

Diagram1

Brsg

gyszsg

2008-ban rkezett gyek brsgi-gyszsgi megoszlsa

Diagram2

28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felnttkor

fiatal kor

Medicis gyek rkezse 2008-ban

Diagram4

237

140

81

190

175

148

447

59

150

122

144

101

37

384

122

94

67

71

161

55

2008-ban rkezett gyek megyei bontsban

Diagram5

46191

4136

774

33157

35140

10138

46401

1148

7143

9113

18126

398

334

55329

8114

391

1156

368

22139

055

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor

2008-ban rkezett gyek letkori megoszlsa

2293

551

2008-ban befejezett gyek a megllapodsok szempontjbl

Number of cases in each county in 2008

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES


felnttkor2862502272401791811363Brsg3268334Brsg334

fiatal kor263628291639174gyszsg10371661203gyszsg1203





Baranya18105123288611446191237

Bcs-Kiskun38083156574136140

Bks439432333567278

B-A-Z2574998839133157190

Csongrd208410415567135140175

Fejr467716717710138148

Fvros232222452317920246401447

Gy-M-S6253152328114859

Hajd-Bihar35861485897143150

Heves26769746539113122

J-N-Sz1169807576418126144

K-E3475005151398101

Ngrd016163182133437

Pest271611882816819655329384

Somogy14041774818114122

Sz-Sz-B040403515439194

Tolna8293732730115667

Vas343460252536871

Veszprm12778910627222139161

Zala020200353505555
















felntt kor2862502272401791812621482022252282112639

fiatalkor263628291639361929222650356

FiatalkorFelntt korSSZ

Baranya46192238

Bcs-Kiskun5139144Brsg543

Bks67278gyszsg2433

B-A-Z33157190

Csongrd43171214

Fejr10138148

Fvros46401447gyszmgyszm

Gy-M-S95160Elz vrl folyamatban maradtFelntt kor602Felntt kor3223

Hajd-Bihar7148155Fiatalkor91Fiatalkor446

Heves11111122Idszak alatt rkezettFelntt kor26213669

J-N-Sz17121138Fiatalkor355

K-E49296

Ngrd83442

Pest61274335

Somogy8114122

Sz-Sz-B39194

Tolna115768

Vas36871

Veszprm22139161

Zala35154

Brsg545

gyszsg2449




vdemels elhalasztsra kerlt sor204242026Megllapods teljeslt2085

srtett nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]1361715380161Megllapods nem teljeslt189

terhelt nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]7077713292Vdemels elhalasztsa26








GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

0

0

0


J

0

0


J2

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor

2008-ban rkezett medicis gyek letkori megoszlsban

J3

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54

J4

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54


J5

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor


J6

543

2433

2008-ban rkezett medicis gyek elrendel szerinti megoszlsban

J7

602

91

2621

355

2008-ban folyamatban lv medicis gyek szma

J8

3223

446

2008-ban folyamatban lv medicis gyek szma korcsoportos bontsban

J9

2300

573

2008-ban befejezdtt gyekben a megllapodsok arnya

Med_4

2085

189

26


Diagram1

2286

550

2008-ban befejezedtt gyekben a megllapodsok arnya

Diagram5

28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felnttkor

fiatal kor


Med_1

2293

551

2008-ban szletett megllapodsok

28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felntt kor

fiatalkor

2008-ban rkezett medicis gyek szma

Percentage of mediation cases in the percentage of indictments in each county in 2008

Diagram1

0.0149455112

0.0400336417

0.0130916415

0.0132607482

0.0278972755

0.0311120454

0.0103544128

0.0073791662

0.0070342637

0.0332969432

0.0201342282

0.0202617138

0.0111494558

0.0245961821

0.0236022441

0.0078720375

0.0174717369

0.0151031695

0.0250272035

0.0131418837

Munka1

Bcs-Kiskun96351441.49%

Baranya59452384.00%

Bks5958781.31%

Borsod-Abaj-Zempln143281901.33%

Csongrd76712142.79%

Fejr47571483.11%

Fvros431704471.04%

Gyr-Moson-Sopron8131600.74%

Hajd-Bihar220351550.70%

Heves36641223.33%

Jsz-Nagykun-Szolnok68541382.01%

Komrom-Esztergom4738962.03%

Ngrd3767421.11%

Pest megye136203352.46%

Somogy51691222.36%

Szabolcs-Szatmr-Bereg11941940.79%

Tolna3892681.75%

Vas4701711.51%

Veszprm64331612.50%

Zala4109541.31%

Klfld761

sszesen19127929761.56%

Munka1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Munka2

Munka3

Percentage of agreements in cases terminated in 2008 (N=2872)

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES








Baranya18105123288611446191237

Bcs-Kiskun38083156574136140

Bks439432333567278

B-A-Z2574998839133157190

Csongrd208410415567135140175

Fejr467716717710138148

Fvros232222452317920246401447

Gy-M-S6253152328114859

Hajd-Bihar35861485897143150

Heves26769746539113122

J-N-Sz1169807576418126144

K-E3475005151398101

Ngrd016163182133437

Pest271611882816819655329384

Somogy14041774818114122

Sz-Sz-B040403515439194

Tolna8293732730115667

Vas343460252536871

Veszprm12778910627222139161

Zala020200353505555
















felntt kor2862502272401791812621482022252282112639

fiatalkor263628291639361929222650356


Baranya46192238


Bks67278gyszsg2433

B-A-Z33157190

Csongrd43171214

Fejr10138148






K-E49296

Ngrd83442

Pest61274335

Somogy8114122

Sz-Sz-B39194

Tolna115768

Vas36871

Veszprm22139161

Zala35154

Brsg545

gyszsg2449

megllapods teljestse [Bktv. 15. (1) a) s c)]13932191612175181805Agreement has been reached2300

teljests ellenrzsnek befejezdse megvalsult megllapodssal [Bktv. 15. (1) b)]20523228439280No mediation or no agreement573









az els kzvetti megbeszlstl szmtott 3 hnap eredmnytelenl eltelt [Bktv. 15. (1) i)]240240024A megllapods teljeslt2074

eredmnytelensg egyb okbl5936229596A megllapods nem teljeslt192

illetkessgbl trtn tttel161173020Vdemels elhalasztsra kerlt sor26

Valamelyik fl nkntes rszvtelnek hinya293

A terhelt nyilatkozatbl megllapthat, hogy a Be. 221/A. (3) b) vagy c) pontjban rt felttelek nem llnak fenn110

Eredmnytelen kzvetti eljrs egyb okbl148

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

0

0

0


J

0

0


J2

0

0

0

0

0

0

A 2008-ban befejezett gyek - a befejezs mdja szerint

J3

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor


J4

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54

2008-ban rkezett gyek szma megyei bontsban

J5

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54


J6

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor


J7

543

2433


J8

602

91

2621

355


J9

3223

446


Med_4

2300

573

Diagram1

2085

189

26


Diagram5

2286

550


Med_1

28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felnttkor

fiatal kor


2293

551


28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felntt kor

fiatalkor


Percentage of fulfillment of the agreements in 2008 (N=2308)

J10

295

271

243

263

191

213

299

169

243

247

264

278

2008-ban rkezett medicis gyek szma havi bontsban

megll telj angol

2085

189

26

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES








Baranya18105123288611446191237

Bcs-Kiskun38083156574136140

Bks439432333567278

B-A-Z2574998839133157190

Csongrd208410415567135140175

Fejr467716717710138148

Fvros232222452317920246401447

Gy-M-S6253152328114859

Hajd-Bihar35861485897143150

Heves26769746539113122

J-N-Sz1169807576418126144

K-E3475005151398101

Ngrd016163182133437

Pest271611882816819655329384

Somogy14041774818114122

Sz-Sz-B040403515439194

Tolna8293732730115667

Vas343460252536871

Veszprm12778910627222139161

Zala020200353505555
















felntt kor2692352152331721772611492132242372362621

fiatalkor263628301936382030232742355

2952712432631912132991692432472642782976


Baranya46192238


Bks67278gyszsg2433

B-A-Z33157190

Csongrd43171214

Fejr10138148






K-E49296

Ngrd83442

Pest61274335

Somogy8114122

Sz-Sz-B39194

Tolna115768

Vas36871

Veszprm22139161

Zala35154

Brsg545

gyszsg2449




vdemels elhalasztsra kerlt sor204242026Agreement has been fulfilled2085

srtett nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]1361715380161Agreement hasn't been fulfilled189

terhelt nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]7077713292Postponement of accusation26






eredmnytelensg egyb okbl5936229596srtett nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]153

illetkessgbl trtn tttel161173020terhelt nkntes rszvtelnek hinya [Bktv. 15. (1) f) s g)]77








GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

0

0

0


J

0

0


J2

153

77

46

9

8

103

24

62

17

Befejezsi okok arnya a nem megllapodssal vgzd gyekben 2008

idzs kzbesthetetlen 2%

mindkt fl nkntes rszvtelnek hinya 9%

srtett vagy terhelt elhunyt 2%

a terhelt nyilatkozatbl megllapthat, hogy a Be. 221/A. (3) b) vagy c) pontjban rt felttelek nem llnak fenn 21%

3 hnap eredmnytelenl eltelt 5%

terhelt nkntes rszvtelnek hinya 15%

srtett nkntes rszvtelnek hinya 31%

J3

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor


J4

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54


J5

238

144

78

190

214

148

447

60

155

122

138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54


J6

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

10138

46401

951

7148

11111

17121

492

834

61274

8114

391

1157

368

22139

351

Fiatalkor

Felntt kor


J7

543

2433


J8

604

86

2621

355


bef mdja

3225

441


J9

2300

573


Med_4

Diagram1

0

Diagram5

2286

550


Med_1

28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felnttkor

fiatal kor


2293

551


28626

25036

22728

24029

17916

18139

26236

14819

20229

22522

22826

21150

felntt kor

fiatalkor


MBD00173CB4.xls

Diagram2

2074

192

26

293

110

148


GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES








Baranya18105123288611446191237

Bcs-Kiskun38083156574136140

Bks439432333567278

B-A-Z2574998839133157190

Csongrd208410415567135140175

Fejr467716717710138148

Fvros232222452317920246401447

Gy-M-S6253152328114859

Hajd-Bihar35861485897143150

Heves26769746539113122

J-N-Sz1169807576418126144

K-E3475005151398101

Ngrd016163182133437

Pest271611882816819655329384

Somogy14041774818114122

Sz-Sz-B040403515439194

Tolna8293732730115667

Vas343460252536871

Veszprm12778910627222139161

Zala020200353505555
















felntt kor2862502272401791812621482022252282112639

fiatalkor263628291639361929222650356


Baranya46192238


Bks67278gyszsg2433

B-A-Z33157190

Csongrd43171214

Fejr10138148






K-E49296

Ngrd83442

Pest61274335

Somogy8114122

Sz-Sz-B39194

Tolna115768

Vas36871

Veszprm22139161

Zala35154

Brsg545

gyszsg2449











az els kzvetti megbeszlstl szmtott 3 hnap eredmnytelenl eltelt [Bktv. 15. (1) i)]240240024A megllapods teljeslt2074

eredmnytelensg egyb okbl5936229596A megllapods nem teljeslt192

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Valamelyik fl nkntes rszvtelnek hinya293

A terhelt nyilatkozatbl megllapthat, hogy a Be. 221/A. (3) b) vagy c) pontjban rt felttelek nem llnak fenn110

Eredmnytelen kzvetti eljrs egyb okbl148

GRAFIKONOK 2008 VES

0

0

0


J

0

0


J2

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0

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J3

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5139

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43171

10138

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7148

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492

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391

1157

368

22139

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Felntt kor


J4

238

144

78

190

214

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60

155

122

138

96

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335

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68

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161

54


J5

238

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78

190

214

148

447

60

155

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138

96

42

335

122

94

68

71

161

54


J6

46192

5139

672

33157

43171

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61274

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Felntt kor


J7

543

2433


J8

602

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J9

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Med_4

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Diagram5

2286

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24029

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The reasons of the complex penal reform, the purposes of the new criminal policy:

victim-offender mediation (vom) in case of adult offenders in hungary

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