COLORADO AREA ASSEMBLY
CORRECTIONS
COMMITTEE

POLICY
AND
PROCEDURES

REVISED 1992

Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill.

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends - this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.

from "The Big Book", page 89

PURPOSE

The only purpose of the Colorado Area Correction Committee is to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the alcoholics who is confined. The activities of this Committee are based on, and governed by, the Twelve Traditions of A.A. Our primary activities are to:

1. Take A.A. meetings into Correctional Facilities.
2. Provide A.A. conference approved literature from pink can contributions.
3. Provide corresponding contacts and release contacts for inmates.

TERM OF OFFICE

All Area Corrections Committee positions, except for the Conference Chairperson, are for two (2) years. The Conference Chairperson position is for one (1) year.

POLICY

The Colorado Area Corrections Committee will meet a minimum of three (3) times a year at the Spring, Summer and Winter Area Assemblies. Additional meetings may be held at the discretion of the Area Corrections Committee.

It is the expressed desire of this Committee that all A.A. volunteers abide by the sobriety requirements of the facility. For those with no stated sobriety requirements, it is suggested that any A.A. volunteer have one (1) year of continuous and current sobriety (no slips) or be accompanied by someone with at least one (1) year of continuous and current sobriety. It is the responsibility of the A.A. Facility Contact to remove any person who violates this policy or any facility policy from the A.A. clearance list. They will notify the Facility Program Director (Official responsible for the clearance), A.A. Meeting Contacts, District Chairperson, Regional Chairperson and the person being removed from the clearance list.

Remember always, these suggestions are based on "that which experience has taught us". It is the intention of your Committee, through these suggestions, to simplify and unify the procedure for those who are interested in, and participating in, this type of 12th Step Work.

Of necessity, our Committee is organized in an endeavor to avoid confusion and duplication of effort. This is a service committee and our responsibility has many facets, most important of which are:

1. To the inmate group or meeting within a facility.
2. To the facility: courteous acceptance and compliance with its wishes and regulations.
3. To the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous; namely, conducting ourselves in a manner above reproach. to ensure that we will not say or do anything that will reflect unfavorably upon the Committee or A.A. as a whole.

Since our public relations policy is one of attraction rather than promotion, we serve these facilities at the invitation of the administration, ever conscious of the admonition, "COOPERATION NOT AFFILIATION".

As members of this Committee, we cannot and do not speak for A.A. Each of us who participates is autoamtically representative of A.A. We maintain our sobriety through adherence to the program embodied in our Twelve Steps of Recovery and try to practice these principles in all our affairs. In view of this, we will:

1. Refrain from using profanity, unrelated and off-color jokes, prolonged monologues of drunk stories and other types of self-indulgence.
2. Respect full anonymity of inside members at all times.
3. Obey all rules and regulations as outlined by the administration.
4. Not intercede on behalf od any individual or group of individuals affected by the decisions of the facility administration.
5. Not engage in any controversy over management, treatment of personnel or inmates; being ever mindful of the single purpose of the Committee.
6. Not give anything to or receive anything from an inmate. (Nothing in -- Nothing out).

PINK CAN CONTRIBUTIONS

The purpose of Pink Can contributions is to provide only A.A. conference approved literature to those confined in Correctional Facilities. All other incidental expenses (ie: printing, postage, phone and supplies) are paid for by general funding from the Area Committee.

Contributions: All checks or money orders should be made payable to:

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

COLORADO AREA CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE

• Chairperson (appointed by Colorado Area Committee Chairperson)
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Literature Chairperson
• Archives Chairperson
• Conference Chairperson
• Regional Chairperson(s)
• Corresponding Contact Chairperson
• Release Contact Chairperson

Note: All positions above are appointed by the Area Corrections Chairperson

DISTRICT CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE

• District Chairperson
• A.A. Facility Contacts
• A.A. Meeting Contacts

COLORADO AREA CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates all Colorado Correctional activities.
• Coordinates formation of Ad Hoc Committee as needed.
• Calls and chairs all Corrections Committee meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Appointed by the Colorado Area Committee Chairperson. It is suggested the the Corrections Chairperson have a strong working knowledge of Corrections.

SECRETARY

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Mails notices of Corrections Committee meetings.
• Records and distributes minutes of Corrections Committee meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

TREASURER

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Receives all contributions made through the "Pink Can" program and other sources such as A.A. Conferences and general meetings.
• Ensures that "Pink Can" funds are used only for the purchase and distribution of A.A. conference approved literature for inmates in Correctional Facilities.
• Maintains proper records od contributions and disbursements (paying all authorized obligations, issuing petty cash checks to authorized officers).
• Submits a quarterly report of contributions by group and district for reproduction and distribution. This report serves as the group's receipt. Individual group receipts will be provided upon request.
• A year end statement will be prepared.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of four years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

LITERATURE CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintains the literature inventory.
• Disburses literature to A.A. Facility Contacts.
• Orders literature from A.A. World Services, Inc. (All orders will be reviewed with the Chairperson and sent through the office of the Treasurer).
• Maintains an A.A. approved audio and video tape library for use in Corrections.
• Manages Literature displays at A.A. functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of three years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

ARCHIVES CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Compiles historical records of all A.A. Corrections activities.
• Works closely with the Colorado Area Archives Committee.
• Manages Corrections Archives displays at A.A. functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON

PURPOSE:

• Provides an exchange of information between A.A. members and Corrections related professionals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Is appointed to serve one (1) year.
• Organizes and conducts the Colorado Area Corrections Conference each year.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

REGIONAL CHAIRPERSON(S)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates all Correctional Facility activities in his region.
• Serves as liason between the Colorado Area Corrections Committee and the District Corrections Committee or A.A. Facility Contact.
• Acts as contact for problems and policy matters arising in his region.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of three years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

CORRESPONDING CONTACT CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides outside A.A. contacts to correspond with inmates.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of three years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

RELEASE CONTACT CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate efforts to pair inmates being released with outside A.A. volunteers.
• The A.A. volunteers responsibility is to assist the newly released inmate in attending one or more local A.A. meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum of three years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

DISTRICT CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSON

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Acts as a contact for problems and policy matters in his district.
• Works closely with the Regional Chairperson.
• Appoints/approves A.A. Facility Contacts for all Facilities in the district.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Is generally appointed at District Committee meetings. A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

A.A. FACILITY CONTACT

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Selects and coordinates A.A. Meeting COntacts of the respective Facility.
• Alerts District Corrections Chairperson of any changes so that the Chairperson will be continually aware of developments in the particular Facility.
• Removes from the A.A. clearnce list any person who violates any Facility policy.
• Notifies the Facility Program Director (official responsible for the clearance), A.A. Meeting Contacts, District Chairperson, Regional Chairperson and the person being removed from the clearance list.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Is appointed/approved by the District Chairperson or the Regional Chairperson. A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

A.A. MEETING CONTACT

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates A.A. volunteers to assure A.A. meetings at the designated Facilities are held at the specified times and dates.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Is appointed/approved by the A.A. Facility Contact, District Chairperson and Regional Chairperson. A minimum of two years of current and continuous sobriety is suggested.

AMENDMENT PROCEDURE

Amendments to this Policy and Procedure Guide must be submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Area Corrections Committee. A two thirds (2/3) vote by the Area Corrections Committee is required to pass the proposed amendment.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

If there should be a disagreement concerning procedures and policies of this Committee, all parties have the right/obligation to resolve the matter by working through the organizations chart shown on the next page. If necessary, the issue may be resolved at the Area Corrections meeting by group conscience or by the decision of the Area Corrections Chairperson.

The joy of living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word. Here we turn outward toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards. Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety. When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price tag on it.

Practically every A.A. member declares that no satisfaction has been deeper and no joy greater than in a Twelfth Step job well done. To watch the eyes of men and women open with wonder as they move from darkness into light, to see their lives quickly fill with new purpose and meaning, to see whole families reassembled, to see the alcoholic outcast received back into his community in full citizenship, and above all to watch these people awaken to the presence of a loving God in their lives -- these things are the substance of what we receive as we carry A.A.'s message to the next alcoholic.