Circles of support and accountability: Survivors as volunteers and the restorative potential

This study explores the restorative justice potential for survivors of sexual violence volunteering for Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA). COSA is one organisation that works as part of a multidisciplinary team to manage high-risk, sex-offenders (core members) on their release from prison. COSA have always been considered as a restorative intervention, particularly with regards to the core members and their communities. In recognition of fact that between twenty and 25 per cent of COSA volunteers are themselves survivors of sexual violence, the restorative potential for survivors, warrants exploration. Here thirteen volunteers, including five survivors were interviewed about their motivations for and experiences of volunteering for COSA. In this instance, the analysis did not reveal experiences synonymous with surrogate restorative justice processing. Yet it did indicate that COSA does permit restoration of survivors through their inclusive approach to selection of volunteers and the potential this holds to promoting positive images of survivorship.