VFV CoSAA joint project of:

M2/W2 Association and Catholic Charities Justice Services

2012

Started in 1994 in Hamilton, ON Legislation changed allowing offenders to

be detained to end of sentence and released without access to support or monitoring

A high risk child molester was released at Warrant Expiry into the community

He was said to be a 100% risk of reoffending within a few years

He had no community support, lots of community hostility

A local pastor got involved, recruiting members of his church community to form a support group for him

They helped him with practical needs They met with him regularly working

through difficult times with both support and accountability

He lived in the community for 14 years before he died and had NO MORE VICTIMS

CoSA was born . . . and has spread across Canada and internationally

In 2008 CCJC coordinated a national CoSA gathering in Calgary

CoSA sites chose CCJC as umbrella organization for a funding application to the National Crime Prevention Centre

In the fall of 2009 5 year funding was granted for a National Demonstration Project in 16 sites across Canada

200 Isabella Street, Suite 303Ottawa, OntarioK1S 1V7       Fax: 613-237-6129

Maristela Carrara, CoordinatorTel: 613-563-1688 x 102Email: mcarrara@ccjc.ca

CCJC - July 2010

  1. To conduct an independent evaluation

of CoSA's effectiveness.

2. To increase CoSA’s capacity in order to provide service to an additional 50 core members per year across the country.

CSC Chaplaincy has funded CoSA in various sites across Canada since 1994

Andrew McWhinnie is the National Advisor to the Associate Director General Chaplaincy

CSC Chaplaincy first funded CoSA in the Fraser Valley in 1997 and continues with annual funding

Regional Chaplain Dwight Cuff and Pacific Region chaplains facilitate our access to potential Core Members in institutions

Fraser Valley CoSA began in 2005 Vancouver was added to our area in April

2010 It is a joint project of Catholic Charities

Justice Services and M2/W2 Association-Restorative Christian Ministries

Geographically we cover the area from Hope to Vancouver, a spread of over 150 km

We relate to multiple police, probation and parole offices

From 2005 to present we have had over 60 Core Members

None of our CMs have reoffended with a sexual offense while being a part of a Circle

Since the NCPC Agreement began we have grown from 4 to 16 circles

In October 2009 we had 16 volunteers, at present we have 70+ volunteers

Numbers at September 2012

A Circle is made up of 3-5 trained volunteers who commit to support and hold accountable a sex offender who has been detained to the end of a federal sentence for a sexual offence and voluntarily requests a Circle

No One is Disposable

No One Does This Alone

Community Safety

No More Victims

To substantially reduce the risk of future sexual victimization within the

community by assisting and supporting released individuals in their task of integrating with the

community and leading responsible, productive, and accountable lives

*These #s are from October 2011 (Y3 of the National Demonstration Project)

N = 132 N = 132

- Wilson, Cortoni & Vermani, 2009

83%

73%

70%

Building CoSAIS Building Community

March 2011

Circles of Support and Accountability CSC Chaplaincy NHQ