Restorative Justice and the Reintegration of High-Risk Sex Offenders (From Managing High-Risk Sex Offenders in the Community: Risk Management, Treatment and Social Responsibility, P 133-155, 2010, Karen Harrison, ed. - See NCJ-230796)

• NCJ Number: 230803
• Author(s): Anne-Marie McAlinden
• Date Published: 2010
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter considers the use of restorative justice as a means of reducing the risk posed by high-risk sex offenders and argues that such programs can address the core problems related to the reintegration of high-risk sex offenders by meeting the offender's rehabilitative needs and allaying public anxieties about the presence of sex offenders in the community.

Abstract

The advancement of restorative justice as a response to sexual crime has arisen largely from the failings of retributive public shaming approaches. Punitive legislative and judicial responses to sexual crime, together with vengeful media and public attitudes, have impeded offender reintegration and ultimately undermine effective risk management. With sexual offenses, a few isolated initiatives have developed based on reintegrative or restorative principles. In South Australia, for example, youth charged with sexual offenses who admit their behavior are diverted from court processes and participate instead in a family conference. In Arizona, the RESTORE program has used restorative justice as a response to date and acquaintance rape by first-time adult offenders and those charged with misdemeanor sexual offenses. One of the most established programs is Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA). Broadly, COSA programs are postrelease schemes that involve sex offenders becoming part of support and treatment networks for sex offenders, in which the community works in partnership with the offender and professional agencies. The offender and other members of the circle enter into a covenant that specifies each member's area of assistance. The trained volunteers provide high levels of support and guidance for the offender. This includes addressing all aspects of the offender's life necessary for successful reintegration. The increasing empirical data from evaluations of COSA programs show that they can be effective in reducing recidivism rates and engaging communities in the reintegrative process. 11 notes and 106 references