A History of the Development of Circles of Support and Accountability

Wilson summarises the historical development of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), from its early beginnings in Canada, to the successful implementation in both the United Kingdom and Europe. The chapter explores how the original model was adapted to a British context to ensure it became a meaningful component of the risk management process, and highlights how this restorative community based initiative works effectively within the existing criminal justice system. Wilson examples how the development of a strength based approach in rehabilitation facilitated CoSA’s ability to enhance and support the work of statutory agencies in a truly ‘transformative’ manner for both the Core Member, who is the recipient of CoSA, and the community to which they return.