vfv cosa a joint project of: m2/w2 association and catholic charities justice services 2012
TRANSCRIPT
VFV CoSAA joint project of:
M2/W2 Association and Catholic Charities Justice Services
2012
Started in 1994 in Hamilton, ON Legislation changed allowing offenders to
be detained to end of sentence and released without access to support or monitoring
A high risk child molester was released at Warrant Expiry into the community
He was said to be a 100% risk of reoffending within a few years
He had no community support, lots of community hostility
A local pastor got involved, recruiting members of his church community to form a support group for him
They helped him with practical needs They met with him regularly working
through difficult times with both support and accountability
He lived in the community for 14 years before he died and had NO MORE VICTIMS
CoSA was born . . . and has spread across Canada and internationally
In 2008 CCJC coordinated a national CoSA gathering in Calgary
CoSA sites chose CCJC as umbrella organization for a funding application to the National Crime Prevention Centre
In the fall of 2009 5 year funding was granted for a National Demonstration Project in 16 sites across Canada
200 Isabella Street, Suite 303Ottawa, OntarioK1S 1V7 Fax: 613-237-6129
Maristela Carrara, CoordinatorTel: 613-563-1688 x 102Email: [email protected]
CCJC - July 2010
1. To conduct an independent evaluation
of CoSA's effectiveness.
2. To increase CoSA’s capacity in order to provide service to an additional 50 core members per year across the country.
CSC Chaplaincy has funded CoSA in various sites across Canada since 1994
Andrew McWhinnie is the National Advisor to the Associate Director General Chaplaincy
CSC Chaplaincy first funded CoSA in the Fraser Valley in 1997 and continues with annual funding
Regional Chaplain Dwight Cuff and Pacific Region chaplains facilitate our access to potential Core Members in institutions
Fraser Valley CoSA began in 2005 Vancouver was added to our area in April
2010 It is a joint project of Catholic Charities
Justice Services and M2/W2 Association-Restorative Christian Ministries
Geographically we cover the area from Hope to Vancouver, a spread of over 150 km
We relate to multiple police, probation and parole offices
From 2005 to present we have had over 60 Core Members
None of our CMs have reoffended with a sexual offense while being a part of a Circle
Since the NCPC Agreement began we have grown from 4 to 16 circles
In October 2009 we had 16 volunteers, at present we have 70+ volunteers
Numbers at September 2012
A Circle is made up of 3-5 trained volunteers who commit to support and hold accountable a sex offender who has been detained to the end of a federal sentence for a sexual offence and voluntarily requests a Circle
No One is Disposable
No One Does This Alone
Community Safety
No More Victims
To substantially reduce the risk of future sexual victimization within the
community by assisting and supporting released individuals in their task of integrating with the
community and leading responsible, productive, and accountable lives
*These #s are from October 2011 (Y3 of the National Demonstration Project)
N = 132 N = 132
- Wilson, Cortoni & Vermani, 2009
83%
73%
70%
Building CoSAIS Building Community
March 2011
Circles of Support and Accountability CSC Chaplaincy NHQ