2. COSA Models

A. Consensus

Individual COSA's reach decisions through consensus. However, projects with more than one COSA operating will develop their own management and governance style. For example, a project may be structured with its various COSAs accountable to a LPC, who is in turn is accountable to a Community Chaplain, who is in turn accountable to a Board of Directors, who is accountable to the community. Consensus decision-making within each Circle operating such a structure is vital, even though the LPC and, ultimately, the Board of Directors retain the ability to establish or terminate a COSA when the need arises.

B. What is a Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA)

Circles of Support, Circles of Support and Accountability, Circles of Care, Support Circles, Family Support Circles, Circle Sentencing projects, all of these names describe various modes of working with different groups of individuals. Each fulfills an important need in our society. However, no services were found that explicitly targeted high risk, high needs warrant expiry date (WED.) Sex Offenders.

C. COSAs are Specifically for Sex Offenders

It is important to note that COSAs were not intended to "re-invent the wheel" in terms of services provided to offenders, families and others affected by crime in our midst. Many organizations such as The John Howard Society, The Mustard Seed Church, The Salvation Army, The 7-Steps Movement and Alcoholic's Anonymous to name a few, continue to provide services to offenders in their area of expertise.

Circles of Support and Accountability were not formed to compete with existing service providers. They were formed to assist:

• those considered by many to be the "untouchables", or the most marginalized in our society,
• those for whom there was little or no support because they were no longer the responsibility of the CSC,
• those for whom there was no support from other governmental or non-governmental service or agency.

COSA, for instance, are not intended for men or women who have been released on Long Term Supervision Orders (LTSO's), serving life sentences, or serving indeterminate sentences (i.e."Dangerous Offenders"). These individuals are supported with other resources available through the federal correctional service such as treatment and follow-up programs, housing and, if needed, intensive supervision and support (however, see E, below).

COSA originated to meet the unique needs of WED Sex Offenders, because no one else was stepping forward to do so.

D. Chaplaincy Definition of COSA

The CSC Chaplaincy defines a "Circle of Support and Accountability" as a group of 4 - 7 primarily faith-based community volunteers, who are committed to enhancing public safety by supporting community re-entry through: covenanting, meeting and walking daily in friendship with a person who has been detained to the end of his^{Footnote 2} sentence because of a sexual offence history.

E. Non-COSA Variations

The CSC Chaplaincy also supports other volunteer-based responses to offenders who are not necessarily WED sex offenders (e.g. LTSO, Dangerous Offenders, Lifers, and men on Statutory Release or Parole). Indeed, the COSA model has been adapted in several communities to meet the needs of other offender groups. For example, the Community Adult Mentoring and Support Service (CAMS.) project in Victoria, B.C., and projects in Kitchener, Ontario, and Edmonton, Alberta working with women offenders have been adapted from the original COSA model. Some adaptations are being evaluated internationally, most notably in the United Kingdom. As well, Community Chaplaincy projects across Canada help meet the needs of offenders, ex-offenders and their families, often basing their efforts on a COSA like model.

While these alternative projects often consult with the CSC Chaplaincy staff and COSA, they are not called "Circles of Support and Accountability." They provide their own training programs and development guides, and some work under the direction of the CSC Parole staff.

F. COSA Mission Statement and Core Values

COSA Mission Statement: "To substantially reduce the risk of future sexual victimization of community members by assisting and supporting released individuals in their task of integrating with the community and leading responsible, productive, and accountable lives."

The core values on which this initiative was founded and which continue to guide the COSA initiatives in the pursuit of the mission are as follows:

• We affirm that the community bears a responsibility for the safe restoration and healing of victims as well as the safe re-entry of released sex offenders into the community.
• We believe in a loving and reconciling Creator who calls us to be agents in the work of healing.
• We acknowledge the ongoing pain and need for healing among victims and survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault.
• We seek to "recreate community" with former offenders in responsible, safe, healthy, and life-giving ways.
• We accept the challenge of radical hospitality, sharing our lives with one another in community and taking risks in the service of love.

G. Restorative Justice

Circles of Support and Accountability are committed to the principles of Restorative Justice. They seriously consider the needs and concerns of the victims and community as well as those of the offender. The safety of the community and potential victims is imperative if there is to be restoration in the community. A restoration of peace must be realized for true community safety to be enhanced. This is a motivating factor for COSA.

It is advisable that new COSA projects become familiar with the principles and practices of Restorative Justice generally. Moreover, it is important that each local initiative forms an association and participates in Restorative Justice projects in their area.

Readers are directed to the Guide to Training Potential Volunteers 2002 (pp. 8 - 9) for more information about Restorative Justice.