CoSA-Ottawa's volunteers' subjective experiences with 'sex offenders:' Taming the monstrous

Abstract

People convicted of sexual offences are arguably one of the most marginalized criminal offender groups because both the general population and offender populations tend to have hardened views of these individuals (Spencer, 2009; Wilson & Prinzo, 2001). Circles of Support and Accountability Ottawa (CoSA-Ottawa) is an organization that helps people convicted of sexual offences reintegrate into society by challenging traditional forms of community reintegration. CoSA-Ottawa was founded on the principles of restorative justice, which are exemplified in their mottos “no more victims” and “no one is disposable.” The organization relies on the commitment and contribution of volunteers to assist with the reintegration process. While there have been various studies on CoSA from different perspectives (Duwe, 2012; Fox, 2014; Wilson, Picheca, and Prinzo, 2007; Wilson & Prinzo, 2001), there have been few studies directly focusing on CoSA-Ottawa volunteers through a critical lens. This study examines the subjective experiences of CoSA-Ottawa volunteers who work with people labeled as ‘sex offenders.’ The research was conducted using semistructured interviews with six participants. Each interview transcript was transcribed and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The master themes that developed through this study include: the humanization of the monstrous, the reintegration and re-socialization through a helping relationship, and overall impacts of these relationships on CoSA-Ottawa volunteers. Using a governmentality and power conceptual framework, this thesis demonstrates how the relationships between the core members and volunteers are transformative and act as an extension of the carceral