Desistance from Sexual Offending: The Role of Circles of Support and Accountability

This book explores how Circles of Support and Accountability can reduce sexual reoffending, offering a new way of understanding how they promote desistance from sexual offending and turn those convicted of sexual offenses into law-abiding and productive members of the community.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 182 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the powerful impact of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) in reducing sexual reoffending. The release of a notorious sex offender from prison sparks widespread fear and panic among the public, often portrayed as irredeemable monsters and ticking time bombs, destined to continue preying on innocent children and women. In response, governments in the West have implemented harsh policies, including public sex offender registers, indefinite detention, and lifetime correctional supervision.

However, a radically different approach has emerged alongside these measures: Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). CoSA are groups of trained volunteers who actively work to resist the exclusionary impulse and support individuals with sexual offense convictions in their reintegration into communities. Despite their seemingly counterintuitive nature, extensive research has shown that CoSA significantly outperform more popular draconian sex offender management policies in reducing sexual reoffending.

Yet, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of how CoSA work. This book aims to bridge that gap by proposing a new way of understanding the mechanisms through which CoSA promote desistance from sexual offending and transform those convicted of sexual offenses into law-abiding and productive members of society.

Drawing on 65 in-depth interviews with CoSA participants, the book offers a novel, theoretically informed empirical explanation of CoSA's capacity to foster these outcomes. It sheds light on the critical role that community support plays in facilitating the reintegration of individuals with sexual offense convictions, challenging the notion that they should be isolated and stigmatized.

Ultimately, this book serves as a call to action, urging the community to take a more central role in integrating people with sexual offense convictions. It emphasizes the importance of creating safer communities for our children and ourselves by fostering a sense of belonging and support for those who have made mistakes.

This work not only illuminates new directions for research, policy, and practice but also holds significant implications for our society as a whole. By embracing the power of CoSA and promoting a more inclusive and compassionate approach to sexual offender management, we can work towards a future where sexual violence is not only reduced but ultimately eradicated.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367646257