Vancouver/Fraser Valley Circles of Support and Accountability

1. Vancouver/Fraser ValleyCircles of Support and Accountability VFV CoSA A joint project of: M2/W2 Association and Catholic Charities Justice Services 2012

2. Origins of CoSA • 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

3. CoSA Origins cont’d • 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

4. CoSA locations in Canada

5. National Demonstration Project • 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

6. 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

7. Goals for Project: • 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.

8. CSC Chaplaincy & CoSA • 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

9. CoSA Locally • 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

10. Local CoSA • 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

11. NCPC Project at VFV CoSA: Numbers at September 2012

12. Circles • 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

13. COSA Values No One is Disposable No One Does This Alone Community Safety No More Victims

14. CoSA Mission Statement 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

15. Who do we work with?Core Member Demographics N = 132 N = 132 *These #s are from October 2011 (Y3 of the National Demonstration Project)

16. Circles devote time to…

17. CoSA Does Work - Wilson, Cortoni & Vermani, 2009 70% 73% 83%

18. Practically Speaking . . . Building CoSA IS Building Community Circles of Support and Accountability CSC Chaplaincy NHQ