Launched in 2022 as a pilot project, Peer-Led Circle of Support and Accountability (“PLCOSA”) provides a way for formerly incarcerated COSA program graduates to gather with each other for mutual support and accountability.
All members of the Peer-Led COSA have already spent a year working weekly with a circle of three to four volunteers in a Circle of Support and Accountability (COSA), who supported their first year of transition into the community and held them accountable to their own vision of success, their conditions of release, and repairing harm where possible.
The approach in both programs consist mostly of circle practice – structured conversation to build relationships and communication skills. Circle members engage in difficult and intimate conversations. The COSA program is credited with significantly reducing recidivism. It is also a deep dive into restorative practice and a source of joy and rich connection for participants.
If you would like more information about the PL COSA program, please contact Reentry Coordinator Marie-Pierre Py at marie@brattleborocjc.org or at 802-258-8947.