Sounds like a good concept. I think they should go one step further and replace the current scarlet letter laws with these kinds of accountability circles, that way not only are they able to have a support group, but their chances of being able to reintegrate into the community are increased greatly.

I am, however, skeptical that this could be implemented properly in the US. I think if they tried they would end up ruining it by doing something stupid like allowing the support group to forcibly have the offender committed.