CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

LATVIAConference “No more Victims”15th March 2011

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COSA

“NO MORE VICTIMS”“NO SECRETS”

reducing recidivism of sex offenders

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COSA

• It all started in Canada (1995) and proved to be successful

• Following the success of Circles in Canada, COSA have been established in the UK (2002)

• The Netherlands started implementing in 2009. • With Daphne III funding from the European

Union the Project Circles Europe ‘Together for Safety’ was launched in 2010.

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Circles Europe: ‘Together for Safety’Aim: to promote the conditions for implementation and

model fidelity of Circles across Europe by designing a guidance handbook. The handbook brings together knowledge and expertise about Circles from different countries, describing necessary phases (start up, development and evaluation).

Partners: • Dutch Probation Services • Center for Safety Policy&Criminal Justice (Avans) • Circles UK• House of Justice Antwerp (Belgium) • Tilburg University • European Organisation for Probation (CEP)

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COSA: does it really work?

Canada: (Wilson et al. 2007b) :• Rates of sexual reoffending

reduced by 70%, • Less severe or invasive

offences; (n=120, follow up = av. 4,5 years)

• Replication study in 2009: 83% less sexual reoffending(Wilson et al. 2007a)

• Increasing feelings of safety in the community (68% of respondents; n = 77)

England: (Bates et al. 2007)• No reconvictions of core

members• Risky behaviour detected

in time and dealt with in 10 cases(n= 16, follow up: 4 jaar)

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COSA: how does it work

Core member

Volunteers

Professionals

Circle coördinator

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COSA: why does it work?3 key principles:

Support Monitor Maintain

     

Reduce isolation and emotional loneliness

Public protection Hold offender accountable

     

Model appropriate relationships

Support statutory authorities(e.g. probation)

Relationship of trust

     

Demonstrate humanity and care Safer communities

Maintain treatment objectives

     

 Reduce reoffending

 

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Necessary steps - National level Lessons learned from earlier experiences in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium:

• Adaptation study• Financial means• Public relations and handling resistance• Developing protocols, manuals and basic

materials• Building working alliances with national

partner organisations • Developing processes and materials

necessary to monitor and evaluate circles and ensure quality standards

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Necessary steps - Regional level

• Building working alliances with regional partner organisations

• Organising the regional project organisation & selection and training of coordinators

• Recruitment, assessment and training of volunteers • Recruitment and selection core members • Recruitment professionals and sharing information• Support, supervision and meetings Volunteers• Monitoring model fidelity • Gathering data for research

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Is it worth while?

• Community costs of recidivism are high• Climate of fear / lack of unbiased information• Strong community reactions to release of sex

offenders • Stigmatisation and exclusion • Social isolation and marginalization• Key risk factors: social isolation and emotional

loneliness• Lack of monitoring • Long term risk of recidivism

N0, it’s not an easy and cheap solution to all problems, but…………….

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Circles of Support and Accountability

• Provides a surrogate social network as long as necessary

• Offers practical and moral support for change• Supports treatment goals• Expands monitoring capacity

• Supports development of safe and responsible communities

• Supports agency of community members

Let us share experiences and join together for a safer community

Thank you so much for sharing today

www.cosanederland.nl