“Overview
of Co-operation between AA and Probation/Criminal Justice Services
Alcoholics
Anonymous in Great Britain is structured into a number of
geographical service areas known as Intergroups. Although these are
not coterminous with Probation and Scottish Social Services areas,
each Intergroup does have a responsibility to liaise with those
Probation Offices and Scottish Social Services Offices that exist
within its boundaries. There is no standard national structure for
these liaison arrangements, each Intergroup being free to liaise in
accordance with its own local circumstances. However, described below
are mechanisms that have been utilised in various parts of the
country. Although it is for local services to determine together
which of these mechanisms they consider to be the most beneficial to
meet their local needs, they are listed here to show what AA is able
to offer the Probation and Criminal Justice Services.
Volunteer
List
This is a
list of AA volunteers who are available to talk to offenders who
express an interest in AA as a possible solution to their drinking
problem. The AA member may meet the offender either at the local
Office or elsewhere and offer to take them to an AA meeting.
Confirmation-of-Attendance
System
Where the
Criminal Justice System requires the offender who attends AA meetings
to produce a record of attendance, this can be arranged by the
meeting Secretary giving the offender at the end of the meeting a
numbered 'chit' to give to their Offender Manager.
Input and
Presentation to Groups
AA members
can give talks and presentations to the meetings and training events
of Offender Managers, Magistrates and Sheriffs, Judges, Court
Officials, Police and Lawyers.
Seminars
The first
National AA/Probation Seminar was held in Beaconsfield in 1997. It
continued to be held annually for some ten years. The seminar now
takes the form of a more generic AA service conference, but it still
contains input by by people working in AA/Probation Liaison.
Open AA
meetings
Offender
Managers are always welcome to attend open meetings of AA to help
them to experience a typical AA meeting, and to see how AA works.
Intergroups produce directories of the AA meetings in their area, and
open meetings are indicated in these directories. They are available
from the respective Intergroup Liaison Officer.”
Comment:
All of the above are in accordance with AA traditions ie. cooperating
with but not endorsing outside organisations, with the exception of
the Confirmation-of-Attendance System.
We would
be interested to hear from any members with regard to their
experience of the CMA ('chit') system (good or bad). We can be
contacted at our email address (see blog). Confidentiality assured.
Cheers
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
