What Do Victim/Survivors of Sexual Violence Think about Circles of Support and Accountability?

Abstract

Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) are a feature of the criminal justice landscape in Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, parts of Western Europe, and South Australia. Prior research indicates that members of the public may oppose CoSA due to a belief that by supporting perpetrators, CoSA undermine the interests of survivors of sexual violence. However, no research has considered the views of survivors of sexual violence themselves. The current study addressed this gap by conducting semi-structured, qualitative interviews (n = 33) with adult female survivors of sexual violence on their views about CoSA. Participants’ perspectives were diverse, although in the main indicated broad support (albeit often cautious and/or contingent support) for CoSA. Understanding the views of survivors will enable CoSA programs across the globe to develop and deliver CoSA in ways that better meet the needs of survivors, as well as to address public resistance toward CoSA. Implications and future research priorities that emerge from the findings are discussed.