Creating social capital and reducing harm: Corrections Victoria support and awareness groups

• Published in: Sexual abuse in Australia and New Zealand 2012-11, Vol.4 (2), p.36-42
• Main Authors: Braden, Melissa, Göbbels, Svenja, Willis, Gwenda M, Ward, Tony, Costeletos, Maria, Mollica, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Correctional treatment programs; Demonstrations; Offenders; Recidivism; Rehabilitation; Reintegration; Sex crimes; Sex offenders; Social support; Support networks; Treatment
• ISSN: 1833-8488

The importance of pro-social support in the rehabilitation and reintegration of sexual offenders is undisputed; however, there are few published demonstrations of how practitioners engage offenders' support networks in treatment. Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) is arguably the best known framework for addressing social support, and emerging research supports its effectiveness in reducing sexual recidivism. COSA is specifically designed for high risk sex offenders who lack pro-social support. The current paper describes a Corrections Victoria initiative that engages offenders' existing support networks in treatment. Support and Awareness Groups (SAAG) aim to enhance pro-social support, promote treatment generalization, and assist in community re-entry. In the current paper, the SAAG service delivery model is described, including the processes involved in forming a SAAG and the implementation of SAAG in Corrections Victoria Sex Offender Programs. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the SAAG model in the context of contemporary rehabilitation and desistance theories.