Community Education Regarding Sex Offenders (CERSO) is a collaborative effort between Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS) and the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) that seeks to address community concerns and empower citizens regarding sex offenders. The ways in which this program seeks to do that are by:

• Providing accurate and valuable information about sex offenders, including addressing myths, providing facts, explaining how sex offenders are supervised in the community, and how the sex offender registry works and can be accessed
• Explaining the form of  community supervision used in managing sex offenders in Connecticut
• Discussing risk reduction tips to help make individuals and families feel a greater sense of safety

CONNSACS and DOC are hoping to obtain these goals by doing pro-active education of community groups and professionals about the realities regarding sex offenders and the most up to date and accurate information available.

A team of individuals from different organizations involved in sex offender management will be providing the community education.

Team members include representatives from:

• Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services
• Connecticut Department of Correction/Parole (http://www.ct.gov/doc/ )
• Court Support Services Division/ Probation (http://www.jud.ct.gov/CSSD/ )
• The Center for the Treatment of Problem Sexual Behavior (http://www.theconnectioninc.org/behave_ctsb.html )
• Representatives from the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry

          (http://www.ct.gov/dps/cwp/view.asp?a=2157&q=294474 )

• Representatives from local police departments, local political officials, or community representatives

Types of Community Education Available:

• Sex Offender 101: A brief introductory look at sexual violence, who sex offenders are, what risks they pose, and how to reduce risk.

Presentation available in ½ hour to 2 hour time slots, and can be custom tailored for full day trainings as well.

• Community Supervision of the Sex Offender in Connecticut: The Collaborative Victim Centered Approach

Presentation available in ½ hour to 2 hour time slots, and can be custom tailored for full day trainings as well.

If you have questions about any of this information or are interested in having a presentation or training done for your community or organization please contact:

Nancy Kushins

Executive Director

(860) 282-9881

nancy@connsacs.org