circles can be used in any organizational, institutional or community setting. circle time and morning meetings have been widely used in primary and elementary schools for many years and more recently in secondary schools and higher education. in industry, the quality circle has been employed for decades to engage workers in achieving high manufacturing standards. in 1992 yukon circuit court judge barry stewart pioneered the sentencing circle, which involved community members in helping to decide how to deal with an offender. in 1994 mennonite pastor harry nigh befriended a mentally challenged repeat sex offender by forming a support group with some of his parishioners, called a circle of support and accountability, which was effective in preventing re-offending.