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Implementation
reveals that monitoring on its own is not effective and may even have an adverse effect. As a complementary
component of supervision, guidance is essential if this is to be carried out effectively. 625 For this
reason the following aspects of guidance are important: the relationship between the supervisor and
the individual under supervision, ‘listening and talking’, building up and maintaining an individual’s
network, helping the individual to obtain accommodation and work and to maintain a relationship,
and case management. 626 Formal contact that does not involve informal monitoring as part of it does
not appear to be an effective way of reducing re-offending. Convicted perpetrators benefit from the
involvement of their immediate social and personal environment. 627 This outlines the importance of a
project such as COSA, which is described in the box below.
COSA
The Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) were developed in Canada in 1994. The Dutch Probation and
After-care Services are currently engaged in projects aimed at introducing this method for the re-integration of
sexual abuse offenders. The intention behind the activities of intensively supporting offenders and supervising
their re-integration into society is to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. In COSA, the offender is the core member.
An informal network – consisting of three to five volunteers – forms an inner circle around the core member.
The members concentrate on supporting the offender both practically as well as emotionally. By maintaining
close and informal contact with the offender, the intention is to be able to identify behaviour that indicates that
the offender is likely to re-offend at an early stage. Further to this, supervision of the offender is increased by the
involvement of volunteers. The outer circle is formed by professionals such as the police and the probation and
after-care services. The volunteers therefore form a type of interface between the offender and the professionals.
The professional outer circle is responsible for the supervision and implementation of the rehabilitation of the core
member. An employee from probation and after-care services fulfils the role of circle coordinator, and is responsible
for the operation of the inner circle and the sharing of information within the circles. It is a requirement that the
offender is willing to take part in COSA and enters into a corresponding contract with the volunteers. The contract
obliges the offender not to commit any more offences and not to keep any secrets. 628 The group of sex offenders
who are eligible for this has an average to high likelihood of re-offending following detention or treatment. 629
Research in Canada has established that by applying the COSA method, the likelihood of re-offending amongst
sex offenders is 70 percent less. 630 In England, pilot studies in Hampshire and Thames Valley have observed a
significant reduction in re-offending. 631 The close interrelationship with MAPPA (see box above) is characteristic of
the English COSA projects. The MAPPPs are ultimately responsible for supervising the sex offenders. In the Netherlands,
it is possible that the pre-requisites for the development of an approach similar to the COSA organisational
model used in England are already in place. As a result of the establishment of Safety Houses (see Safety Houses
box in §3.6.3.1), an infrastructure for regional cooperation is being developed that is similar to the English MAP-
PA. 632 Furthermore, a COSA pilot study has been launched in various cities in the Netherlands. Cities where this
has been implemented included Rotterdam, Breda and, from the end of 2012, Maastricht. The expectation is that
625 Poort, 2009, p.18.
626 Poort, 2009, p.18.
627 Poort, 2009, p.18.
628 Caspers, 2010.
629 Caspers et al., 2010.
630 Wilson et al., 2007.
631 Bates et al., 2007.
632 Hoing et al., 2009.
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