What We Do
The single purpose of
the Area 72 Corrections Committee is to facilitate AA members in carrying
the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the alcoholic who is confined in a
correctional facility.
The activities of this
committee are based on, and governed by, the Twelve Traditions of
Alcoholics Anonymous. Our primary activities are:
1.
We coordinate with District Chairpersons, Correctional Facility
Contact persons, and AA volunteers to take AA meetings into correctional
facilities.
2.
We help to provide AA conference approved literature, Grapevines,
and La Vinas for inmates incarcerated in the following:
·
Washington State Correction Facilities and Prisons
·
Federal
Prisons located in the State of Washington
·
Juvenile
lock down Facilities
3.
We encourage correspondence contacts for inmates. This provides an
opportunity for AA volunteers to correspond with inmates in our state and
across the nation.
4.
We encourage the Bridge Program regarding contact of volunteers and
alcoholic ex-offenders, which will help support them find a meeting and
merge into the mainstream AA community upon their release.
5.
We support statewide activities and assemblies at local AA
community events by setting up an information table with all appropriate
Corrections materials, whenever possible.
How Can You Help?
The Corrections Committee needs all types of volunteers. We need people
to attend meetings in the facilities, people to help spread the word about
this type of service work, and people to help us collect and organize the
literature that we bring into the facilities.
It is okay if you have never been to jail yourself! You can still help
us. You can still carry AA’s message of hope to an alcoholic who is
incarcerated. Let’s face it: many of us who have never been arrested just
never got caught!
This type of service work does not require much time. Due to its nature,
very often it can be done at your convenience. Yet it is still a very
rewarding type of service work.
Information on Getting Clearance to Enter a Facility
Some facilities in
Western Washington require that you receive clearance before you can enter
for an AA meeting. We have District corrections committees that can share
that information upon request. Check with your local DCM or local District
Corrections Chair regarding what clearance is required.
For More Information
You can contact the local Corrections Chair in your
district, or you can send email to the Chair of our Area Corrections
Committee at
corrections@area72aa.org. He or she can
help you get started and introduce you to the people in your district who
are already doing this type of service work.
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