Circles of Support & Accountability: A National Replication of Outcome Findings

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY More than 12 years ago, a group of concerned citizens formed a community-based support group for a recently-released, high-risk sexual offender. This community action was later formalized as Circles of Support & Accountability (COSA), a project stewarded by the Mennonite Central Committee of Ontario and sponsored in part by the Correctional Service of Canada. The original pilot project in South-Central Ontario has since assisted more than 100 such offenders-most of whom were released to media attention and community apprehension. Projects based on this model are now in place in the United Kingdom and several states in the USA. Projects are also underway in all Canadian provinces. Initial research into the South-Central Ontario COSA project showed that participation by ex-offenders in the pilot project reduced sexual recidivism by 70% or more in comparison to both matched controls and actuarial norms. The current study consisted of a national examination of the impact of COSA on recidivism. A group of 47 high risk sexual offenders involved in COSA across Canada after having been released at the end of their sentence were matched to a group of 47 high risk sexual offenders who were released at the end of their sentence, but who were not involved in COSA. Offenders were matched on risk, length of time in the community, release date and location, and prior involvement in sexual offender specific treatment. The average follow-up time was 2.8 years (34 months). For the purpose of the study, recidivism was defined as having a new charge or conviction for a new offense or for having breached a condition imposed by the Court. Recidivism information was obtained from CPIC records (Canadian Police Information Centre, a national database of offense histories which indicates whether a charge has been laid or a conviction registered). Results show that the offenders who participated in COSA had significantly lower rates of any type of reoffending than did the matched comparison offenders who did not participate in COSA. Specifically, offenders who participated in COSA had an 83% reduction in sexual recidivism in contrast to the matched comparison group (2.1% vs. 12.8%), a 73% reduction in all types of violent recidivism (including sexual -8.5% vs. 31.9%), and an overall reduction of 72% in all types of recidivism (including violent and sexual -10.6% vs. 38.3%). Overall, COSA participants were responsible for considerably less sexual, violent, and general offending in comparison to the matched comparison group. These findings suggest that the impact of participation in COSA is not site-specific. In addition, these results provide further evidence for the position that community volunteers, with appropriate training and guidance, can and do assist in markedly improving offenders' successful reintegration into the community. -i- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to than