Circles of Support and Accountability

Reducing Risk by Supporting Sex Offenders who live in the Community

How can we reduce the risk posed by child sexual abusers who return to the community from prison or treatment? How can we help an abuser faced with the fear and uncertainty of returning to a possibly hostile situation?

'Circles of Support and Accountability' balance the needs of the community to be protected with the need of the offender to be supported. 'Circles' originated in the Mennonite Church in Canada, arising from the experience of a pastor faced with helping a homeless, fearful sex offender, recently released from prison into a community warned of his presence, who were themselves both fearful and hostile. Eight years later, research has demonstrated the value of 'Circles' in Canada by reducing offending and helping to prevent further victims.

What is a Circle of Support and Accountability?

'Circles' consist of a group of volunteers, set up around a 'Core Member', a sex offender who has recently re-joined the community. The 'Circle' is designed to be both a support and a safety mechanism, befriending the offender whilst holding him accountable for his actions. Within it, the Core Member can grow in self-esteem and develop healthy adult relationships, maximising his or her chances of successfully re-integrating into the community in a safe and fulfilling way. The Core Member is involved from the beginning, is included in all decision making and, like all other members of the Circle, signs a contract committing him or herself to the Circle and its aims.

Volunteers comprise people from the local community and the Circle relates to, among others, family members, treatment professionals, probation, police, voluntary and faith organisations. Supported by professional staff, the optimum size for a Circle is 4-6 members; small enough to facilitate trust and communication and large enough to share responsibility for the support needs of the Core Member.

Volunteers are fully informed of the Core Member's past pattern of offending, and whilst helping them to settle into the community, aims also to assist them to recognise patterns of thought and behaviour that could lead to their re-offending. Each Circle is unique, because it is individually designed around the needs of the Core Member. Its life extends for as long as there is a perceived need to support them and manage the risk they represent, although it is likely that the active involvement of Circle members will diminish over time.

Volunteers are thus central to Circles of Support and Accountability. They should be people of a mature outlook, and will be required undergo a detailed application process, including a Criminal Records check. They then attend a training programme which includes information about the Criminal Justice System as it applies to sex offenders, the thought and behaviour patterns of offenders, relapse prevention, group functioning and support, and maintaining healthy boundaries. The aim is to equip volunteers to support the Core Member, recognise inappropriate behaviour and support one another.

During the early weeks the Circle meets weekly, and volunteers have at least one further contact during the week, either by phone or face to face. Contact is reduced over time, but each volunteer is expected to commit to the Circle for a minimum of one year. The Project provides support to each Circle, with staff attending on a regular basis, receiving weekly reports and being available to help in times of difficulty or crisis.

Funded by the National Probation Service, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation manages a Project set up to support men who were previously resident at the Wolvercote Clinic.

The Thames Valley Project is managed by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in partnership with Thames Valley Police, the National Probation Service and H.M. Prison Service. The Project is also active in Hampshire.

For further information on The Lucy Faithfull Foundation's 'Circles' Project, please call 01372 847160. We will be pleased to put you in touch with other Projects.