Why I Volunteer for CoSA
by Barbara O., M.Sc, M.B.A.
VCoSA Volunteer
I see how people cringe and judge me when I tell them I volunteer with an organization that helps convicted sexual offenders settle back into their communities. Hey! Wait, don’t let your eyeballs get trapped by how fast you just rolled them backward. Stay with me, have an open mind, and walk through my thought process with me. Then judge me at the end, but please, get to the end.
Believe me, when I first saw their website, I thought, What the…? But my curiosity got the best of me. For someone who was once a victim and has been privileged to work with several victims, I needed to understand why. Volunteering for CoSA has been an eye-opening and rewarding experience. Once I understood their mission and why they chose to support convicted sexual offenders in reintegrating into the community; I knew I wanted to get involved and make a difference.
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Now let’s be logical. Why would an organization want to support a known sexual offender? A convicted one, no less, so their guilt is confirmed.
Here are some reasons, not an exhaustive list, bearing in mind that with or without support, they will be released anyway. This is why CoSA cares:
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Without support, integration is extremely challenging. Release conditions often restrict where these individuals can live, the types of jobs they can hold, and even where they can shop. It might feel like they deserve this, right? But here’s the twist, when faced with these barriers, they may re-offend so they can return to jail, avoiding these struggles altogether. Each re-offense means yet another victim in the community.
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Being on the sex offender registry limits their opportunities. Job prospects dwindle, family and friends distance themselves, and income becomes scarce. Sure, you might think, They brought this upon themselves. But when their resources and relationships vanish, they may re-offend to get back to having a roof and food, and the cycle continues, creating yet another victim.
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Social isolation worsens their mental state. Imagine trying to start over and the very mention of your name feels like a curse because you’re on the registry. Depression sets in, and jail starts to look more appealing, peers there don’t demand explanations or judge. How do they get back to jail? You guessed it: re-offense.
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They’re humans who made bad choices, and they’ll live with those choices for the rest of their lives. If there’s even a small chance of helping them become better versions of themselves after serving their time, why not take it? If we expect better choices from people, we need to give them a path to make those choices.
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Can you see how the victim count keeps climbing in this hypothetical situation? Should I get into the mental health toll this takes on victims and their families?
Now, here comes CoSA. We support these individuals in a way that ensures they remain accountable while helping them gradually rebuild their lives, make better choices, and ultimately keep our communities safer.
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Fun fact: CoSA only works with individuals who voluntarily request support and are willing to stay accountable. They are under no obligation to engage with CoSA.
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One of the most crucial aspects of CoSA’s work is accountability. By holding these individuals accountable for their actions and equipping them with tools to make positive changes, CoSA not only protects the community but also helps these individuals become better citizens.
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Through my volunteer work with CoSA, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of accountability and support. Providing a safe space for these individuals to share their struggles and successes allows CoSA to make a positive impact. It’s remarkable to see how understanding and encouragement can help someone turn their life around.
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I’ve learned so much from volunteering with CoSA: empathy, patience, and the importance of second chances. It’s humbling to be part of an organization dedicated to improving lives and creating safer communities for everyone. With the right support and guidance, people can change.
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Now, remember, whether CoSA supports them or not, they will return to society. Knowing what you know now, are your eyeballs still trapped in their sockets, or can you see the benefits to both the community and the individuals we support?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a meaningful cause, and I look forward to continuing my support for CoSA in their vital work. What about you?
About Volunteering
by Andrea M.
Volunteer
I started volunteering with Virtual COSA over a year ago with the hope of making a positive impact in the community—specifically by supporting individuals with sexual offense histories as they reintegrate into society after having completed their incarceration.
To be completely honest, when I first joined, I carried some of the stigma and prejudices often associated with sexual offenders. While I consider myself open-minded, compassionate, and caring, I also hold conservative beliefs. However, as I participated in each Circle with the Core Member (the individual reintegrating), I began to see the human being behind the label. It became clear that many Core Members genuinely wanted to change but often didn’t know how or where to start.
Through each meeting, patterns of maladaptive behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, and fears became more evident. Many Core Members lack trust in psychologists, psychiatrists, or the criminal justice system, so having an independent group where they can confide in others and openly discuss their daily struggles is a critical part of their reintegration and accountability journey.
COSA is not about hand-holding or casual discussions—it’s real work that leads to lasting change. This program serves as a bridge to rehabilitation and is one of the few structured ways to help prevent reoffending. I want to emphasize two important things: First, if a Core Member violates their probation conditions, COSA immediately informs their parole officer. Second, their past crimes are never justified, and no person should ever have to endure sexual violence. However, I believe that if we hold onto a purely punitive, “eye for an eye” mentality, we risk failing to prevent future harm. At the end of the day, whether someone agrees with this program or not, we all share the same goal—preventing future victims.
Beyond the impact on Core Members, this experience has also led to significant personal growth for me. I’ve learned so much from the Core Members, my fellow volunteers, and the staff. Overall, my time with Virtual COSA has been a profoundly positive and transformative experience.