Circles of Support and Accountability is a reintegration initiative, based on restorative justice principles, that aims to reduce victimization. CoSA Halifax trains volunteers to work with people who have been incarcerated for committing sexual offences and held to the end of their sentence because of their high-risk to re-offend. A circle consists of three to five volunteers who meet regularly with a ‘core member’ as a group and one-on-one to help with reintegration challenges, refer the core member to community resources (relating to housing, employment, medical/psychological needs, etc) and challenge any behaviour that might lead to re-offending or breaching of legal conditions.

 

The purpose of CoSA Halifax is to:

 

1. Reduce community victimization.
2. Develop and promote public education initiatives involving the post-release reintegration of sex offenders;
3. Liaise and support CoSA sites throughout Canada to iteratively develop best practices;
4. Be part of a national voice for CoSA in our aim to reduce victimization;
5. Advocate for legislative reform;
6. Collaborate with like-minded agencies, services and governing bodies, and seek leading edge practices in the furtherance of these objects.

 

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