In this article we analyse recorded verbal interactions between victims and offenders in the presence of mediators. Our aim is to illuminate how victims interact, communicate and position themselves in relation to the offender. We inquire whether victims benefit from verbal interaction with offenders during a process of mediation. According to this study there are no easy answers. Victims act in diverse ways depending on their aims and the situation. They may act as moral entrepreneurs, adopt consensus-seeking strategies or take oppositional positions. This research may be informative for those who are interested in which benefits victims can achieve when they communicate with offenders in the framework of restorative justice.