Corrections Committee

How A.A.'s Carry The Message To Alcoholics In Correctional Facilities

The material in these Guidelines has come from the experience and “growing pains” of A.A. correctional facilities committees. We are privileged to share it with A.A.s throughout the United States and Canada who are carrying our message behind the walls.

Purpose

The purpose of a correctional facilities committee is to coordinate the work of individual A.A. members and groups who are interested in carrying our message of recovery to alcoholics behind the walls, and to set up means of smoothing the way from the facility to the larger A.A. community through prerelease contacts.

A correctional facilities committee may function within the structure of a General Service Conference area committee or a central office (intergroup). In A.A.’s early years, prison Twelfth Step work was usually done by an individual group or an individual member. As A.A. has grown, however, it seems that a committee formed within the A.A. service structure works more effectively.

Prior to 1977, services to correctional and treatment facilities were provided under the umbrella of the Institutions Committee. Because of rapid growth, the 1977 General Service Conference voted to dissolve its Institutions Committee and two new committees, one on correctional facilities and one on treatment facilities, were formed. This division was created to provide better service to groups and meetings in both kinds of facilities.

These committees would like to encourage more AA members to get involved. As an AA member, your help is needed in service. Interested?

Contact: or helio007@mchsi.com