Prison Committee

HELP CARRY THE A.A. MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OUR FELLOW ALCOHOLICS BEHIND THE WALLS THE PRISON COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT.


Please join us in carrying the A.A. message to the inmate behind the walls. Our committee has been successful in helping many new members in the correctional institutions to find sobriety and help them get comfortable in A.A. Please go here for a list of guidelines for taking a meeting into a prison.

Statistics show that approximately 80% of inmates should be classified as alcoholics, and we may be the only opportunity they have to hear the A.A. message.

Committee member responsibilities:

1. One (1) year of continuous sobriety to chair a meeting.

2. Six (6) months of continuous sobriety to speak at a meeting

3. Prison commitments are individual commitments not group commitments

THE COMMITTEE MEETS ON THE 1ST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7:00pm AT THE INTERGROUP OFFICE, 444 No. 3rd Street, Suite #3E, Philadelphia, PA 19123.

Questions? Call the office at (215) 923-7900 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Give us your name, address, phone #, best time to call, date of sobriety, and A.A. home group name. The director of the committee will get in touch with you.

PRISON COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

1 .   Prisons are not a group commitment. An individual accepting the assignment is solely responsible in carrying it to the correctional facility. Notify the Director, Asst. Director or Host (See the interviews or the commitment sheet) as soon as possible, if the assignment cannot be kept.

2.  Individuals accepting assignments should be sure speakers are familiar with the guidelines, and the rules of the facility. Speakers must have minimum six months sobriety.

3.  When representing the Prison Committee inside the walls, we identify ourselves as alcoholics only.

4.  A minimum of one-year continuous sobriety is required to chair a meeting. Members under eighteen years are ineligible.

5.  Make a sincere effort to attend all monthly meetings and to accept committee assignments.

6.  Be cooperative with prison officials. Our conduct should be such, that we will always be welcome in their institutions. Become familiar with and abide by the Prison Regulations.

7.  We carry nothing in or out of any prison except the A.A. message. No letters or notes. Personal articles should be left outside.

CONTRABAND such as:

  1. a.Weapons; knives (pocket or otherwise), or guns
  2. b.Money
  3. c.Chewing gum, candy, food, or drinks
  4. d.Medication of any kind
  5. e.Literature other than A.A. literature is prohibited.

8.  Always be mindful of Principles before Personalities. DO not give inmates home address, POB numbers, or phone numbers. Refer all communications to SEPIA, Prison Committee, 444 N. 3rd St., Ste 3E, Philadelphia19123-4179. To phone, call 1.877.DAILAA or 215.923.7900.

9.  Prisons have regulations regarding attire. The following attire is considered inappropriate. Jewelry (other than watch or wedding band), T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, halters, mini-skirts, tight fitting or see through closing. Khaki colors are prohibited in Federal Institutions.

10.  Committee members, or their speakers, will not involve themselves with any activities, at any prisons we serve, other than the activities of this committee. We wish to avoid any conflict of interest that may cause confusion to the inmates we serve, or compromise the working ability of the committee.

11.  It is the responsibility of the person taking the commitment, to insure that the A.A. meeting is not used as a guise for visiting purposes, or other inappropriate reasons. Any one having a personal affiliation with an inmate should be exclude themselves from that particular institution: i.e. family members, lovers, close personal friends, etc.

12.  Do not give out cigarettes, even when asked.

13.  Any member is automatically disqualified from further Prison activity upon the loss of his or her sobriety, but may again become eligible when he or she meets the requirements of guidelines.

14.  In general, it is recommended that a female, at women’s facilities and vice-versa, accompany males. Man may go into women’s meetings at Delaware County prison.

15.  Former inmates or persons currently on parole or probation are required to attain written approval of that particular prison to enter.

16.  If you are late for a meeting and the Host has stared the meeting, it is the Host’s meeting unless he or she decides to turn the meeting over.

17.  The Director or the Asst. Director of the committee shall make all contact with prisons, except to call in for clearance or directions. NO Exceptions.

18.  A.A. members are asked to NOT SIGN ANYTHING given to you by an inmate.

19.  A new member must be accompanied with a veteran for 2 meetings before taking commitments alone.

ADDED INFORMATION

a.  Chairperson and speakers should carry driver’s license or picture ID to verify identity if required.

b.  A.A. does not provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, or court officials. Nor do we provide money, housing, jobs, and clothes, legal or marital advice.

Updated 2012

 BUCKS COUNTY ZONE

 

For Clearance Forms and Instructions, CLICK HERE.

Corrections Commitment and Clearance Instructions

Each and every person attending a Correctional Facilities commitment needs: clearance from the Bucks County Department of Corrections, at least two years of continuous sobriety and must not currently be on probation or parole.

• To obtain your clearance, please fax the last three pages of this document to the attention of: Debbie Canale at fax number: (215) 345-3743. The clearance process typically takes about one business week and should be a one-time event.

• Check back one week after faxing with Debbie Canale at: (215) 345-3745 to positively verify that you have been cleared.

• Please do not request or accept a commitment until you have been positively cleared.

Please remember to call and confirm the time and location of your actual commitment at the Correctional Facility (aka: Prison/Lock-Down) with Debbie Canale at: (215) 345-3745 or your actual commitment at the Community Correction Center (aka: Rehab/Work-Release) with Chris Fraley-Galione at: (215) 345-3924. Please call Debbie or Chris one business day prior

to your requested commitment date - Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. Then, and only then, will Debbie or Chris place your name on the "entry list" for that facility the day of your commitment.

•Remember: You will be denied entry if these steps are not completed. You will also need to provide valid photo identification upon your arrival to enter the facility. It is strongly suggested that you bring only your keys, identification and A.A. conference approved literature inside the facility – leave everything else inside your car.

•Remember: Each and every person entering the Correctional Facility or the Community Corrections Center needs to obtain a clearance and confirm the time and location of each and every visit prior to the date of a commitment. You and only you are responsible for fulfilling these requirements and attending the commitment.

If you have any questions, please contact: Susan Miller by telephone at: (267) 250-7577 or by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

One more thing: Thank you for your Service!

 

CHESTER COUNTY ZONE

 

  • PRISON CLEARANCE FORM
  •  PRISON GUIDELINES
  •  ZONE INFORMATION FORM

IF YOU NEED HELP IN COMPLETING THESE FORMS PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING

               

Nick T.              CCZ Prison Coordinator             610-246-8224            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Eileen H.           Asst CCZ Prison Coordinator     610-453-3299            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Steve V.             Asst Men’s Coordinator             484-667-8027             This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Kim C.              Women’s Coordinator                302-463-6292              This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

                     

NOTE:

On the Chester County Prison Form, All spaces must be filled. Use “NONE” if needed. Keep the copy of the Guidelines.

Return the Clearance form and Information form to: Your Intergroup Rep, or, your Chester County Zone Coordinator or mail to:

Chester County Zone Prison Committee

PO Box 443

West Chester, Pa. 19381-0443

 Include a copy of your driver’s license with the Clearance Form.

 REV: 2011/0514

 

 

 

Chester County Prison

Community Volunteer Application

 

General Information:

 

Full Name:

 

Social Security #

 

 

Address:

 

 

Home Phone:

 

Work Phone:

 

 

* Drivers Lic. #:

 

Date of Birth:

 

Sex:

 

 

Marital Status:

 

Race:

 

Spouses Name:

 

 

Children Names & Ages:

 

 

* A copy of your driver’s license must be attached to this application.

 

Education Information:

 

High School Graduate

Yes/Year:

 

School:

 

 

 

No

Grade Completed:

 

Ged?

 

 

Yes           No

 

College:

 

 

Yes           No

Degree:

Yes:

 

 

No

 

College/Univ. Name:

 

 

Employment Information:

 

 

Present Occupation:

 

Employer Name:

 

 

Organization Affiliated With:

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group Leader:

 

Group Phone Number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

References: (Please Provide us with a non-family member reference)

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

Phone Number:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background Questionnaires:

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever been arrested?

 

No

 

                       Yes

If yes, provide when, where, reason and duration.

 

Currently on probation or parole?

 

 

 

 

Have you ever worked with inmates at other Correctional Facilities?   No           Yes

If yes, provide when, where, reason and duration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you now or in the past, have any friends or relatives incarcerated?   No           Yes

If yes, provide when, where, reason, name, relationship and duration.

 

 

 

 

Do you have now or in the past had any friends or relatives who are/were victims of an inmate incarcerated at CCP?                                                                 No           Yes

If yes, provide when, name of individual as well as inmate.

 

 

 

 

What do you hope to achieve by volunteering your time and services to the inmate population at Chester County Prison?

 

 

 

Failure to complete any portion of this application and/ or the supplying of any false inaccurate information may result in denial of this application.

 

I hereby agree to abide to all rules and regulations governing my service as a volunteer at the Chester County Prison. I have read and fully understand all sections of the Volunteer Guidelines Handbook. I also understand that volunteers are not permitted to perform professional services unless certified or licensed to do so.

The responsibility of volunteers to conduct themselves as a positive role model has been explained. I agree with the Chester County Prison Policy of discontinuing and immediate termination of participation by any volunteer whose direct or perceived behavior is determined to be harmful to the Volunteer Program and or the Institution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name

 

 

Signature

                                                                         FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

COAST

 

NCIC

 

HIST

 

 

Treatment:

 

 

 

 

Approved / Disapproved

 

 

 

Security:

 

 

 

 

Approved / Disapproved

Rev: 2008/09/16

Chester County Prison Volunteer

Information Form

CONFIDENTIAL

The following information is requested in order to maintain an accurate phone list to be used by the Chester Co. Zone Prison Committee.

First Name: __________________________________

Last Name: __________________________________

Primary Phone No: _____________________ Time: _________________________

(The number you will be reached on) (Best time to reach you)

Alternate Phone: _______________________

Home Group: ________________________________

E-Mail: _____________________________________

May we pass your first name and phone number to other AA’s on the clearance list

for the purpose of assisting in fulfilling a commitment? ____Yes, _____No

May we leave a message on your answering machine that may

disclose your involvement with the Prison Committee in AA

Example: Prison Committee Calling, please contact us at XXX-XXX-XXXX ____Yes, _____No

Prison Meetings are as follows, please check if you have a preference.

Tuesday: Men and Women: Pre-Release 8:00pm to 9:00pm __

Saturday: Main Prison – Minimum Security Men: 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Women : 7pm to 8pm

NOTE: On the Chester County Prison Form, All spaces must be filled. Use “NONE” if needed. Keep the copy of the Guidelines.

Return the Clearance form and Information for to:

Your Intergroup Rep, or your Chester County Zone Coordinator, or mail to:

Chester County Zone Prison Committee or CCZPC

PO Box 443

West Chester, Pa. 19381-0443

 

 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY ZONE

Downloads

Montgomery County Clearance Form

Montgomery City Form

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