ABSTRACT

The sharing of information between statutory agencies has at times been slow, with agencies often being hesitant about how their information will be interpreted and used by other agencies. This chapter explains communications and the circulation of information in the context of Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). It discusses the flows of information within the inner Circle, how information is passed between the inner Circle and outer Circle and how the volunteers receive information from the criminal justice professionals responsible for managing the specific Core Members. 'Personal information' about the Core Member went from the professionals to the Circle volunteers and conversely went from the volunteers to the professionals. There is a delicate balance between providing personal information and keeping the trust of the Core Member. This further contributes to other findings that highlight the lack of clarity around accountability.