CoSA
For background information on CoSA, please read below. CCJC thanks all the supporters who voiced their support for this project, which has now been approved by Public Safety Canada. This page will be updated as soon as the CoSA Multi-site evaluation project starts. Again, many thanks for your support!
For the latest news about this project, click here.
For contact information on each CoSA site in Canada, follow this link.
Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) is a reintegration program based on restorative justice principles for federally sentenced, high-risk, high needs sex offenders who have been held to the end of their sentence. Although holding offenders accomplishes the short term objective of ensuring public safety during the offender's incarceration, they are eventually released in to the community with no accountability to Correctional Services of Canada or to the police - a potentially precarious situation.
CoSA was developed in Canada in 1994 to fill this void. The goal is to substantially reduce the risk of future victimization of community members by assisting, supporting and holding released sex offenders accountable in their task of integrating with the community and leading responsible and productive lives. Each circle involves participation of trained volunteers who commit themselves to support and hold accountable the sex-offender (called core member) who is returning to the community. The Core members' participation is voluntary. Research shows that men who participate in CoSA reoffend at a rate 70% less than men who do not. Today there are 16 CoSA programs across Canada. Please refer to this document for more information on each program.
Circles of Support and Accountability: An Evaluation of the Pilot Project in South-Central Ontario (pdf - 237kb)
In January of 2008, CCJC coordinated a National CoSA Gathering that brought together, for the first time, all 16 programs in Canada. This gathering provided an opportunity for programs to exchange information, experiences, and to have a number of important conversations regarding the development and the future directions for CoSA in Canada. Key issues put forward for conversation included the need for helpful evaluation processes, training material, policy development and mutual support.
You can access the full report on this gathering here (pdf - 543kb).
The French version is available here (pdf - 573kb).
CCJC continues to support CoSA in fulfilling the goals set at this gathering. For more information on CCJC’s involvement with CoSA Canada, please contact us.