CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
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Transcript of CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
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