"I Am a Different Man Now"-Sex Offenders in Circles of Support and Accountability: A Prospective Study.
In Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), a group of trained and supervised volunteers support a sex offender (core member in a circle), with the aim of supporting the core member's transitions toward full desistance. A prospective, multi-method design was used to explore psychological and social transitions in core members. Data were collected at the start of their circle, after 6 months, and after 12 months. Qualitative data were collected in semi-structured interviews with 17 core members and a total of 29 professionals, and analyzed with Kwalitan, a computer-assisted program for qualitative data analysis. Quantitative data were assessed with self-report questionnaires for sex offenders. Mean differences between t0, t1, and t2 were tested with repeated-measures ANOVAs. Qualitative results indicated improvements in reflective skills, openness, and problem-solving skills, as well as social skills, agency, and self-regulation. Quantitative results documented improvements in emotion regulation and internal locus of control, and positive trends in self-esteem and coping skills. Due to the small sample size, our results must be interpreted with caution. Core members as well as professionals reported a unique contribution of circles to their process, but this claim needs further confirmation.
1 Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, The Netherlands.
Mechtild
M
Höing
1 Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, The Netherlands.
Bas
B
Vogelvang
2 Tilburg University, The Netherlands.
Stefan
S
Bogaerts
D000328:Adult; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012941:Social Responsibility; D066107:Social Skills; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035141:Voluntary Programs
circles of support and accountability; desistance; prospective study; sex offenders