Oct. 19th, 2005
Sexual Offenders: No Going Home
Colo. Dept. of Correction's sexual offenders’ transition from behind bars into Circles of Accountability & Support.
Wonshé, MA, Circle Coordinator, Sex Offender Treatment & Monitoring Program
Interface Host: Barry Erdman, LCSW
My presentation will be somewhat experiential. Beginning with the concept, ‘UMBUNTU’ (South African) – “my humanity is connected to your humanity: one is a person through others”, I will discuss how the centrality of relationship is critical to the issues of accountability and support for sexual offenders. As a community, our safety is dependent on the safety of the released offender. I will present as well:
- A history of Circle of Accountability and Support
- Overview of how sex offender treatment and monitoring works in Colorado
- Relationship between offender accountability and community responsibility
- Philosophy and guiding principles of restorative justice
- Embracing the fundamentals of Circle
- Spiritual practice in a secular ‘world’
About the Presenter:
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Wonshé, MA
Taught by Seneca peace elders, Wonshé has been a servant of the Circle for more than twenty years, serving as Circlekeeper throughout communities in the U.S. and Canada. She is currently the Coordinator for Circle of Accountability and Support, a restorative justice initiative in Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring program. Circle is an integral component of a reentry program for CDOC sexual offenders transitioning into community. Wonshé received her Masters in Conflict Transformation: Concentration in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University, with Howard Zehr her mentor and advisor. She recently contributed to the anthology Critical Issues in Restorative Justice, by Barbara Toews and Howard Zehr (Eds.). |
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CIRCLE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT
for
Department of Corrections
Sex Offenders Reentering Community
A restorative justice initiative by Colorado Department of Corrections, Sex offender Treatment and Monitoring Program and our local communities
This initiative was inspired by and has been adapted from the Circles of Support and Accountability Program in Ontario, Canada. We are grateful for their vision and discipline in this critical area of public safety.
Circle of Accountability and Support is an initiative to safely reintegrate sexual offenders into community, and serves as an integral component of a coordinated interagency team. Rooted in the philosophy and guiding principles of restorative justice Circle of Accountability and Support utilizes the Colorado Sex Offender Management Board model for supervising and monitoring sexual offenders once returned to community. Committed to values of respect and dignity for all, enhancing community safety is held as our highest priority.
Historically, the way of Circle has been honored by myriad cultures throughout the world as a process for honest, respectful communication and decision making. Today, Circle is embraced by a variety of restorative justice initiatives serving their communities, most notably throughout Canada, the United States and New Zealand.
Our Circle members are volunteers professionally educated in restorative justice principles, Circle practice and sexual offender dynamics. In Circle these individuals establish a caring community to support the core member - released offender – in recreating a healthy lifestyle. Using specific guidelines Circle members seek as well to hold the core member accountable for decision making and action, in an effort to contribute to the prevention of his or her re-offense.
Acknowledging that the process of reintegrating sexual offenders into community expectedly stimulates concern from its members, our Circle Coordinator is available to mediate these concerns through education about offenders’ transition experience and community responsibility.
For more information about Circle of Accountability and Support and to learn about volunteer opportunities please contact:
Wonshé, MA, Circle Coordinator
Sex Offender Treatment and Monitoring Program
303-595-4194 extension 29
[email protected]
