Releasing Sex Offenders into the Community Through “Circles of Support”-A Means of Reintegrating the “Worst of the Worst”

Using the philosophy of restorative justice, the Mennonite Cen tral Committee, Ontario, has created a program entitled Circles of Support which endeavors to reintegrate sex offenders back into the community in a productive, supportive fashion while still holding the ex-offender account able. Most ex-offenders appear to join a Circle as a means of self-protection. All seemed aware of the reality that often surrounds the release of a high pro file sex offender. A critical motivating factor for participating in Circles, for many volunteers, is the perceived benefit to the community. The majority of volunteers felt that the community derived enhanced safety or the community benefited from the reintegration of the offender. Circle members felt that Circles of Support were able to assist the ex-offender both emotionally and practically. Ex-offenders themselves indicated that they would have returned to a lifestyle or situation conducive to re-offending had it not been for the existence of Circles.