New Directions in Sex Offender Practice Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology 20 th April 2015

Midlands Circles of Support & 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 Accountability

Circles UK is a new national charity set up to encourage the development of Circles and to ensure consistent quality standards and safety in this work. Circles UK is run by a small team based in Reading, Berkshire. It delivers training and information to support the development and management of Circles within an agreed code of practice, thus providing the quality assurance which allows statutory agencies to make referrals to Circles with confidence. Circles UK is a new national charity set up to encourage the development of Circles and to ensure consistent quality standards and safety in this work. Circles UK is run by a small team based in Reading, Berkshire. It delivers training and information to support the development and management of Circles within an agreed code of practice, thus providing the quality assurance which allows statutory agencies to make referrals 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 Accountability Support Monitor Maintenance Reduce Reoffending The Three Key Principles Saunders & Wilson 2002; Circles UK Code of Practice

support Reduce isolation and emotional loneliness Reduce isolation and emotional loneliness Model appropriate relationships Model appropriate relationships Demonstrate humanity and care Demonstrate humanity and care

monitor Public protection Public protection Support statutory agencies, police, probation, MAPPA Support statutory agencies, police, probation, MAPPA Safer communities Safer communities

maintain Hold core member accountable Hold core member accountable Relationship of trust Relationship of trust Maintain treatment objectives Maintain treatment objectives

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 terror. You’re coming out into a society that you know hates you, that treats you with loathing and contempt. You expect abuse, you expect to be ostracised at best, beaten up at worst. And you’re terrified of yourself……. You feel absolute stark terror. You’re coming out into a society that you know hates you, that treats you with loathing and contempt. You expect abuse, you expect to be ostracised at best, beaten up at worst. And you’re terrified of yourself……. (A sex offender quoted by Libby Brooks The Guardian 21st June 1999 © The Guardian) (A sex offender quoted by Libby Brooks The Guardian 21st June 1999 © 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.

Circles of Support and Accountability 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 Accountability What does a Circle look like? Circles of Support and Accountability What does a Circle look like? A Circle of Support and Accountability is a group of volunteers drawn from the community. The ideal size for a Circle is 4 to 6 members - small enough to optimise trust and communication among Circle members, and large enough to share responsibility for the Core Member’s (offender’s) support needs. The ideal size for a Circle is 4 to 6 members - small enough to optimise trust and communication among Circle members, and large enough to share responsibility for the Core Member’s (offender’s) support needs.

Circles of Support & Accountability 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

A ‘Good Life’ LIFE Healthy Living & Functioning Inner Peace / Freedom from emotional Turmoil and stress Excellence in play hobbies interests SPIRITUALITY in the broad sense of finding meaning and purpose in life PLEASURE feeling good in the here and now KNOWLEDGE how well informed one feels CREATIVITY expressing oneself through alternative forms COMMUNITY connection to wider social groups Excellence in agency autonomy power self-diretedness Excellence in work including mastery experiences RELATEDNESS including intimate romantic and familial relationships Adapted from Tony Ward

Circles of Support and Accountability Is About:- Helping an offender to reintegrate into the community. Helping an offender to reintegrate into the community. Enhancing public safety when there is a perceived element of risk. Enhancing public safety when there is a perceived element of risk. Acting as a support and as a safety mechanism. Acting as a support and as a safety mechanism.

Circles of Support and Accountability Is not about:- Being a therapist Being a therapist Evangelism/A religious conversion, The offender may have no Faith Evangelism/A religious conversion, The offender may have no Faith Looking for thanks or gratitude. Looking for thanks or gratitude.

Each Circle of Support and Accountability has A written contract between all Circle members Looking at the following Commitment and attendance Commitment and attendance Confidentiality Confidentiality Boundaries Boundaries Special needs Special needs Relapse prevention plan Relapse prevention plan

Circles of Support and Accountability Aims of a Circle To help an offender settle in the community To help an offender settle in the community To support his efforts to lead an offence free life To support his efforts to lead an offence free life To hold him accountable for his risky behaviour To hold him accountable for his risky behaviour To provide a point of contact when needed. To provide a point of contact when needed.

Circles of Support and Accountability For whom is a Circle suitable? Ideally for sex offenders who have completed a treatment programme Ideally for sex offenders who have completed a treatment programme For those who can be relied on to attend regularly For those who can be relied on to attend regularly For offenders who are isolated/emotionally lonely For offenders who are isolated/emotionally lonely For offenders who still pose a risk but want to manage it. For offenders who still pose a risk but want to manage it.

Circles of Support and Accountability VOLUNTEERS-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

Circles of Support and Accountability The VOLUNTEER process Briefing Briefing Application Application References References Police checks Police checks Training Training Interview Interview Commence Circle Commence Circle

Circles of Support and Accountability NO MORE VICTIMS SO WHY CIRCLES?

Circles of Support and Accountability Support Monitor Maintenance Reduce Reoffending The Three Key Principles Saunders & Wilson 2002; Circles UK Code of Practice

Assessing Desistance in Child Molesters (Farmer, Beech & Ward, 2011) Compared child molesters who were desisting from offending to potentially active offenders Compared child molesters who were desisting from offending to potentially active offenders Desisti n g group Desisti n g group optimistic for the future, reported an enhanced sense of personal agency, internal locus of control and identified treatment as a turning point in their lives optimistic for the future, reported an enhanced sense of personal agency, internal locus of control and identified treatment as a turning point in their lives Had found a place within a social group or network. Had found a place within a social group or network. Active group Active group pessimistic, blaming of external events or situations for their problems, socially isolated and alienated pessimistic, blaming of external events or situations for their problems, socially isolated and alienated

Restorative justice (from McCartan et al., 2014) Restorative justice is concerned with offender remorse, repair and reconciliation Restorative justice is concerned with offender remorse, repair and reconciliation Whilst CoSA does not involve the victim and offender directly in a restorative process, the combination of the local community’s disapproval of offending, finding a positive way forward for the offender, as well as holding the Core Member to account are key to CoSA Whilst CoSA does not involve the victim and offender directly in a restorative process, the combination of the local community’s disapproval of offending, finding a positive way forward for the offender, as well as holding the Core Member to account are key to CoSA In this sense, CoSA can be understood as a restorative intervention, with a focus on offender accountability and support, safe community reintegration, and where possible behaviour change. In this sense, CoSA can be understood as a restorative intervention, with a focus on offender accountability and support, safe community reintegration, and where possible behaviour change.

Results From the study analysis, the average cost of a “Circle” was estimated to be £11,303 per annum From the study analysis, the average cost of a “Circle” was estimated to be £11,303 per annum And appears to produce a 50% reduction in reoffending (sexual and nonsexual), as the estimated cost of reoffending was estimated to be £147,161 per offender, per annum And appears to produce a 50% reduction in reoffending (sexual and nonsexual), as the estimated cost of reoffending was estimated to be £147,161 per offender, per annum Based on a hypothetical cohort of 100 offenders—50 of whom receive CoSA and 50 of whom do not— investment in CoSA appears to provide a cost saving of £23,494 Based on a hypothetical cohort of 100 offenders—50 of whom receive CoSA and 50 of whom do not— investment in CoSA appears to provide a cost saving of £23,494 Accounting for estimates the full extent of the cost to society may be 5 to 10 times the tangible costs substantially increases estimated cost savings related to CoSA. Accounting for estimates the full extent of the cost to society may be 5 to 10 times the tangible costs substantially increases estimated cost savings related to CoSA.

Circles of Support and Accountability NO MORE VICTIMS Core Member VolunteersCommunity Professional Agencies BENFITS

Circles of Support and Accountability Where are Circles set up? Wherever the offender intends to live We have set up Circles in:- Leamington Spa Shrewsburyx2 Nuneaton Cannock Warwick Stoke on Trent Birminghamx5 West Bromwich StourbridgeWolverhamptonDroitwich

Circles of Support and Accountability We are currently working on Circles in the following areas Circles of Support and Accountability We are currently working on Circles in the following areas West Midlands West Mercia WarwicksireStaffordshire The Midlands COSA Project

Steve Davies Project Manager Epsom Alvechurch