1. Southern Ontario: the Early Days Established in 1994 High-risk sexual offender returned to Hamilton community after sentence Neighbourhood fears – police powerless Local pastor asked by psychologist to help Gathered group of church members together to watch and support ex- offender Examples from Restorative Justice practices and aboriginal circles

2. Southern Ontario: the Early Days Positive results – fears eventually allayed Later incorporated factor of Accountability - not enough to just be friends with offender - change in attitude is necessary Toronto chaplain heard about Hamilton group and formed Circle with similar returns They contacted Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and approached Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) for funding

3. Southern Ontario: the Early Days MCC and CSC began pilot project in southern Ontario called Community Reintegration Project to work with released sexual offenders clients of project now called “Core Members” By 2005, Project was already providing Circles to over 100 Core Members

4. Early studies: Evaluation of pilot project Statistics and profiles of 60 Core Members matched to those of 60 other offenders without Circles Average follow-up time 4.5 years after WED 70% reduction in sexual recidivism 57% reduction in violent recidivism (including sexual) 35% reduction in all types of recidivism (including violent and sexual)

5. Early studies: National Replication Effects of CoSA on recidivism – could 2005 results be replicated nationally? In 2007, results of 47 Core Members across Canada compared to 47 without Circles Average follow-up time 2.8 years after WED 83% reduction in sexual recidivism 73% reduction in violent recidivism (including sexual) 72% reduction in all types of recidivism (including violent and sexual)

6. Other studies: Circles South East (UK) Hampshire-Thames Valley project (HTV) Spanned April 2002 – March 2012 Study matched 71 HTV core members to 71 without Circles Average follow-up time 4.33 – 4.58 years 27 core members in Circles for at least 5 years 54 had no behaviour involving a legal sanction No HTV core member re-convicted for contact sexual offence (any re-conviction was less severe than earlier)

7. Other studies: Minnesota (MnCoSA) Study by Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) released September 2012 31 MnCoSA core members matched to 31 without MnCoSA Circles Average follow-up time “nearly” 2 years Lowered risk rates of recidivism by: 62% lower risk of re-arrest for new offense 72% less for technical violation revocation 84% reduction for any return to prison DOC also saw 82% ROI

8. National Demonstration Project Largest study of its kind: 5 years - Oct 1, 2009 to Sept 30, 2014 14 CoSA sites participating across Canada Currently 182+ core members in CoSA Circles Funded by National Crime Prevention Centre of Public Safety Canada (NCPC) and CSC Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC) disburses funds to CoSA Halifax through Halifax Community Chaplaincy Society Reports sent to CCJC

9. National Demonstration Project Evaluation Phase: To determine: whether the project has been effective factors that hindered or supported implementation across different sites how CoSA can be improved

10. National Demonstration Project Evaluation Phase: To investigate: sustainability of funding program improvement impact of CoSA on recidivism rates