One Month of Virtual CoSA: No More Victims

In our short period of operation, Virtual Circles of Support and Accountability (Virtual CoSA) has been proven to reduce reoffending by 86%. While CoSA has been supporting reintegrating Canadian sexual offenders for 30 years, Virtual CoSA is a unique, modern programme responding to the needs of the client as we reach out to individuals with disabilities, those in remote communities and even those who are still incarcerated. Just as telehealth has been proven to be effective in providing primary medical care in most situations, our data shows that this applies to CoSA as well.

For the last twenty months, Virtual CoSA has been able to provide services to people who cannot access a local CoSA site. As of July 2025, our current source of funding will have run out; it was a 2-year grant from Public Safety. This will leave 20 individuals without a Circle of Support and Accountability.

Why is this a problem? Because everyone needs support from their community.

At Virtual CoSA, we have 23 volunteers who have undergone hours of training in order to provide support for our clients. We believe that, as a society, we have the obligation to accept our role in protecting victims from further sexual harm, as well as reducing reoffences by ensuring that our clients learn to lead responsible, constructive and accountable lives in their communities.

It costs a little over $100 per day to run Virtual CoSA. (This is infinitely cheaper than keeping an individual incarcerated—at about $330 CAD per day.)

Virtual CoSA supports safer communities. Do you?

Check out this video from a long-time volunteer: