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Circles of Support and Accountability: Restorative Outcomes for the Survivor Volunteer

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Sexual Crime

Part of the book series: Sexual Crime ((SEXCR))

Abstract

This chapter draws on the experiences of survivor volunteers working with Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), a community-based initiative that supports the safe reintegration into the community of a Person Convicted of a Sexual Offence (PCSO) recently released from prison. Whilst CoSA have always been considered restorative with regard to the PCSO, (referred to as the Core Member) and their communities, this chapter examines the restorative nature for survivors working face-to-face with someone who has perpetrated a sexual crime. Our findings suggest that despite reticence from some professionals regarding survivors working in this area, survivor volunteers are as capable as anyone in coping with the challenges of working with a PCSO and in doing so can be afforded the opportunity to heal and repair. Our findings thus support the restorative potential of CoSA to address the harm and help to repair and heal those directly affected by sexual crimes. Yet we also recognise that this restorative benefit would hold even more weight if the presence of the survivor volunteer is acknowledged or disclosed in practice. There is however no expectation that survivors need to disclose, and our research, like others, suggests that most will not. This chapter therefore also considers whether disclosure of such an experience is important when undertaking this type of activity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    ‘Person(s) Convicted of a Sexual Offence’ (PCSO) is a descriptive definition that avoids both labelling and defining someone based exclusively on their offence.

  2. 2.

    Please see Wilson et al. (2008, 2009) for a full account of the first Circle.

  3. 3.

    CoSA training will vary across the different jurisdictions. However, this will usually include an initial interview and orientation session. Whilst the key aim of the orientation session is to disseminate information about CoSA and PCSOs, it also provides an opportunity to screen prospective volunteers. During this session, for example, prospective volunteers will be asked to complete a short survey which includes a question on their motivations for volunteering. One possible response relates to any personal experience of sexual violence. For an overview of the training process specific to the UK, see https://circles-uk.org.uk/

  4. 4.

    Circles UK is the national body supporting the development, quality, coordination and effectiveness of all providers of CoSA in England and Wales. See www.circles-uk.org.uk for more information.

  5. 5.

    MAPPA was formally created in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

  6. 6.

    For information on strength-based models and how they are used with PCSOs, see Ward and Steward (2003) and Carich et al. (2010).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Chris Wilson & Kirsty Hudson

Authors
  1. Chris Wilson
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  2. Kirsty Hudson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kirsty Hudson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Belinda Winder

  2. HMPPS, Nottingham, UK

    Kerensa Hocken

  3. Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Rebecca Lievesley

  4. Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Craig Harper

  5. Department of Psychology, Derby University, Derby, UK

    Nicholas Blagden

  6. Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Helen Swaby

  7. Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

    Phil Banyard

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Wilson, C., Hudson, K. (2024). Circles of Support and Accountability: Restorative Outcomes for the Survivor Volunteer. In: Winder, B., et al. Sexual Crime. Sexual Crime. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-46626-7_7

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