Providing Mechanisms of Desistance to Convicted Sex Offenders: The Role of Circles of Support and Accountability in England and Wales

• In Event: The Penal Voluntary Sector: Thematic Panel B

Abstract

Drawing on data from 70 interviews with sex offenders (or Core Members), volunteers and criminal justice professionals throughout England and Wales, this paper describes the “added extra” which volunteers can offer to the reintegration of convicted sex offenders returning to the community. More specifically the paper examines how Circles of Support and Accountability – an organisation which uses volunteers to work with a convicted sex offender or Core Member – provides the opportunities to access desistance pathways and supports pro-social narratives among Core Members, while also monitoring Core Members for signs of risky behaviour.

Author

• David Thompson, University of Sheffield