new directions in sex offender practice centre for forensic and criminological psychology 20 th...

New Directions in New Directions in Sex Offender PracticeSex Offender Practice

Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology

20th April 2015

Midlands Circles of SupportMidlands Circles of Support& Accountability Project& Accountability Project

West Mercia

West Midlands

Warwickshire

Staffordshire

Central England Quakers

Heantun Housing

The Lucy Faithfull

Foundation

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a child protection charity which works with child sexual abusers, abused adults, children and their families, and also trains child protection professionals.

Until its closure it ran the Wolvercote Clinic which was the only dedicated residential treatment centre for sex offenders in the UK.

Circles were initially set up to help its clients resettle into the community following treatment.

Circles of Support and Circles of Support and AccountabilityAccountability

Circles UK is a new national charity set up Circles UK is a new national charity set up

to encourage the development of Circles to encourage the development of Circles and to ensure consistent quality standards and to ensure consistent quality standards and safety in this work. Circles UK is run by and safety in this work. Circles UK is run by a small team based in Reading, Berkshire. It a small team based in Reading, Berkshire. It delivers training and information to support delivers training and information to support the development and management of the development and management of Circles within an agreed code of practice, Circles within an agreed code of practice, thus providing the quality assurance which thus providing the quality assurance which allows statutory agencies to make referrals allows statutory agencies to make referrals to Circles with confidence.to Circles with confidence.

Circles of Support & Accountability

Circles started in Hamilton, Ontario. The thinking was simple

“We wanted to say, very simply, your name is not “unwanted, unloved, your not an outsider”. We want to call you “one of us, friend, neighbour””

Harry Nigh, Welcome In Community Church, Hamilton, Ontario

Circles of Support and AccountabilityCircles of Support and Accountability

SupportSupport MonitorMonitor MaintenanMaintenancece

Reduce ReoffendingReduce Reoffending

The Three Key Principles

Saunders & Wilson 2002; Circles UK Code of Practice

supportsupport

Reduce isolation and emotional lonelinessReduce isolation and emotional loneliness

Model appropriate relationshipsModel appropriate relationships

Demonstrate humanity and care Demonstrate humanity and care

monitormonitor

Public protectionPublic protection

Support statutory agencies, police, Support statutory agencies, police, probation, MAPPAprobation, MAPPA

Safer communitiesSafer communities

maintainmaintain

Hold core member accountableHold core member accountable

Relationship of trustRelationship of trust

Maintain treatment objectivesMaintain treatment objectives

Why are Circles important?Why are Circles important?

Listening to the stories told by the victims of sexual abuse is only half the battle.

Being willing to listen to the stories of offenders can help us win the war.

Pamela Schultz (2005) Not Monsters.Rowman & Littlefield

You feel absolute stark You feel absolute stark terror. You’re coming terror. You’re coming out into a society that out into a society that you know hates you, you know hates you, that treats you with that treats you with loathing and contempt. loathing and contempt. You expect abuse, you You expect abuse, you expect to be ostracised expect to be ostracised at best, beaten up at at best, beaten up at worst. And you’re worst. And you’re terrified of yourself…….terrified of yourself…….

(A sex offender quoted by Libby (A sex offender quoted by Libby Brooks Brooks The GuardiaThe Guardian n 21st June 21st June 19991999 © The Guardian)© The Guardian)

Sexual offence (s) committed against children

Higher risk of reoffending

Perceived high level of need

Socially and emotionally isolated

Limited support network

Ideally, but not essential, completed a treatment programme (SOTP, CSOGP, ISOTP, Better Lives)

Motivated to stop reoffending; has relapse prevention strategies in place

Monitored under local MAPPA (any level) risk-need is the key element.Ideally coming towards the end of supervision

Self-motivated to be part of COSA-understands benefits.


What does a Circle look like?

The Circle is set up at the request of the Core Member,who wants to stop offending. They are generally socially isolated and have little or no support networks.

The Circle relates to others such as family members, police, treatment professionals, probation service, church leaders, educators and self -help groups (e.g. alcoholics anonymous)

Circles of Support and Circles of Support and Accountability Accountability

What does a Circle look like?What does a Circle look like?A Circle of Support and Accountability is a group A Circle of Support and Accountability is a group ofof

volunteers drawn from the community. volunteers drawn from the community.

The ideal size for a Circle is 4 to 6 members - The ideal size for a Circle is 4 to 6 members - small enough to optimise trust and small enough to optimise trust and communication among Circle members, and communication among Circle members, and large enough to share responsibility for the Core large enough to share responsibility for the Core Member’s (offender’s) support needs.Member’s (offender’s) support needs.

Circles of Support & Circles of Support & AccountabilityAccountability

Core member

Volunteers

Professionals

The Circle comprises volunteers from the community who are supported by professional staff

Background and purpose of Circles

Circles of Support and Accountability

Training programme

Criminal justice system as it applies to sex offenders

Understanding sexual offending

Sex offender treatment including relapse prevention strategies and plans

Building a Circle of Support and Accountability

Setting up the Circle

Adapted from Tony Ward

Circles of Support andCircles of Support and Accountability Accountability

Is About:-Is About:-

Helping an offender to reintegrate into Helping an offender to reintegrate into the community.the community.

Enhancing public safety when there is a Enhancing public safety when there is a perceived element of risk.perceived element of risk.

Acting as a support and as a safety Acting as a support and as a safety mechanism.mechanism.


Is not about:-Is not about:-

Being a therapistBeing a therapist

Evangelism/A religious conversion, The Evangelism/A religious conversion, The offender may have no Faithoffender may have no Faith

Looking for thanks or gratitudeLooking for thanks or gratitude..

Each Circle of Support and Each Circle of Support and Accountability hasAccountability has

A written contract between all Circle A written contract between all Circle membersmembers

Looking at the followingLooking at the following Commitment and attendanceCommitment and attendance ConfidentialityConfidentiality BoundariesBoundaries Special needsSpecial needs Relapse prevention planRelapse prevention plan


Aims of a CircleAims of a Circle

To help an offender settle in the communityTo help an offender settle in the community To support his efforts to lead an offence To support his efforts to lead an offence

free lifefree life To hold him accountable for his risky To hold him accountable for his risky

behaviourbehaviour To provide a point of contact when needed.To provide a point of contact when needed.


For whom is a Circle suitable?For whom is a Circle suitable?

Ideally for sex offenders who have Ideally for sex offenders who have completed a treatment programmecompleted a treatment programme

For those who can be relied on to attend For those who can be relied on to attend regularlyregularly

For offenders who are isolated/emotionally For offenders who are isolated/emotionally lonelylonely

For offenders who still pose a risk but want For offenders who still pose a risk but want to manage it.to manage it.

Circles of Support and AccountabilityCircles of Support and AccountabilityVOLUNTEERS-WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR

-People of maturity

-No previous experience necessary

-Representing regular community

- Gender and age balance

- Diverse background and interests

- One year initial commitment

-Supported by professional staff

-Selected if possible to meet the needs of the Core Member


The VOLUNTEER processThe VOLUNTEER process

BriefingBriefing ApplicationApplication ReferencesReferences Police checksPolice checks TrainingTraining InterviewInterview Commence CircleCommence Circle


NO MORE VICTIMSNO MORE VICTIMS

SO WHY CIRCLES?


SupportSupport MonitorMonitor MaintenanMaintenancece

Reduce ReoffendingReduce Reoffending

The Three Key Principles

Saunders & Wilson 2002; Circles UK Code of Practice

Assessing Desistance in Child Molesters Assessing Desistance in Child Molesters (Farmer, Beech & Ward, 2011)(Farmer, Beech & Ward, 2011)

Compared child molesters who were desisting Compared child molesters who were desisting from offending to potentially active offendersfrom offending to potentially active offenders

DesistiDesistinng groupg group optimistic for the future, reported an enhanced optimistic for the future, reported an enhanced

sense of personal agency, internal locus of control sense of personal agency, internal locus of control and identified treatment as a turning point in their and identified treatment as a turning point in their liveslives

Had found a place within a social group or network.Had found a place within a social group or network. Active groupActive group

pessimistic, blaming of external events or situations pessimistic, blaming of external events or situations for their problems, socially isolated and alienatedfor their problems, socially isolated and alienated

Restorative justice (from McCartan Restorative justice (from McCartan et al., 2014)et al., 2014)

Restorative justice is concerned with offender Restorative justice is concerned with offender remorse, repair and reconciliationremorse, repair and reconciliation

Whilst CoSA does not involve the victim and offender Whilst CoSA does not involve the victim and offender directly in a restorative process, the combination of directly in a restorative process, the combination of the local communitythe local community’’s disapproval of offending, s disapproval of offending, finding a positive way forward for the offender, as finding a positive way forward for the offender, as well as holding the Core Member to account are key well as holding the Core Member to account are key to CoSAto CoSA

In this sense, CoSA can be understood as a In this sense, CoSA can be understood as a restorative intervention, with a focus on offender restorative intervention, with a focus on offender accountability and support, safe community accountability and support, safe community reintegration, and where possible behaviour change. reintegration, and where possible behaviour change.

ResultsResults

From the study analysis, the average cost of a From the study analysis, the average cost of a ““CircleCircle”” was estimated to be £11,303 per annum was estimated to be £11,303 per annum

And appears to produce a 50% reduction in And appears to produce a 50% reduction in reoffending (sexual and nonsexual), as the reoffending (sexual and nonsexual), as the estimated cost of reoffending was estimated to be estimated cost of reoffending was estimated to be £147,161 per offender, per annum£147,161 per offender, per annum

Based on a hypothetical cohort of 100 offenders—Based on a hypothetical cohort of 100 offenders—50 of whom receive CoSA and 50 of whom do not—50 of whom receive CoSA and 50 of whom do not—investment in CoSA appears to provide a cost investment in CoSA appears to provide a cost saving of £23,494saving of £23,494

Accounting for estimates the full extent of the cost Accounting for estimates the full extent of the cost to society may be 5 to 10 times the tangible costs to society may be 5 to 10 times the tangible costs substantially increases estimated cost savings substantially increases estimated cost savings related to CoSA. related to CoSA.


NO MORE VICTIMSNO MORE VICTIMSCore MemberCore Member

VolunteersVolunteersCommunityCommunity

Professional AgenciesProfessional Agencies

BENFITS


Where are Circles set up?Where are Circles set up?Wherever the offender intends to liveWherever the offender intends to live

We have set up Circles in:-We have set up Circles in:-

Leamington Spa Shrewsburyx2Leamington Spa Shrewsburyx2Nuneaton CannockNuneaton CannockWarwick Stoke on TrentWarwick Stoke on TrentBirminghamx5Birminghamx5West BromwichWest BromwichStourbridgeStourbridgeWolverhamptonWolverhamptonDroitwichDroitwich


We are currently working on Circles We are currently working on Circles in the following areasin the following areas

West MidlandsWest MidlandsWest MerciaWest MerciaWarwicksireWarwicksireStaffordshireStaffordshire

The Midlands COSA ProjectThe Midlands COSA Project

Steve Davies Project [email protected] 80526301372 847160-Epsom01527 591924-Alvechurch

mailto:[email protected]

new directions in sex offender practice centre for forensic and criminological psychology 20 th...

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