Are you looking for some Service and to help others?
Then why not sign up below and help provide some fellowship and unity to those who cannot get to meetings?
CA Kent Hospitals & Institutions (H&I) have Inmates in Prison that need You NOW!
Inmate correspondence is part of the Hospitals and Institutions committee (H&I). Having prison experience is not a prerequisite. Inmates write for two reasons, either they are looking for fellowship or for potential sponsors (this is not a pen pal club, it is to share our experience of recovery, a 12-step program and sobriety only).
“I have been writing to prisoners pretty much since the start of my recovery . After going into prisons and doing service it was a natural to continue to reach out to serving prisoners whose opportunity for recovery is limited. I would offer sponsorship to take them through the steps. If they did not want to do this I would offer friendship. Recovery has always been a two way thing for me regardless. The benefits to both parties is ongoing recovery. Writing to prisoners is a great way of planting seeds offering hope and kindness. When I help others it helps me so me for me it’s a win win situation regardless. If you get involved in writing to prisoners and offering hope where there is very little, you will be full filling your primary purpose.”
Anonymous CA Fellow
Before you fill out the form below, there are some guidelines, principles and considerations for you to think about:
Suggested principles / guidelines:
In addition to respecting the policies of the HMP prison it is suggested to observe the following guidelines when corresponding with inmates:
1. You must have at least 9 months clean time, have been through the steps and are sponsored and are actively sponsoring and have an awareness of the 12 traditions.
2. In keeping with Tradition Twelve, we respect the anonymity of the inmates, being careful not to divulge their identity or anything they have shared in confidence. Never give out personal addresses or phone numbers or information of your location or your meeting location, for your own and other peoples anonymity and protection.
3. As a return address please use the following PO BOX address:
CAUK
PO BOX 1337
Enfield
EN1 9AS
your first name, your last name initial and the district name (Kent District).
4. When we engage in this type of service, it should always be men writing to men, women writing to women. We believe it is best that no romantic involvements develop.
5. In our introduction we qualify ourselves as addicts so that the addict in prison can get to know and identify with us. We let them know we are willing to correspond with them by letter and to act as a sponsor in order to guide them through the steps if they so choose. We let the inmate know that he or she is not alone.
6. Never write anything you don’t want the world to read. All correspondence sent to and out of the prison is opened and subject to monitoring by the facility.
7. We stay focused on recovery, offering them the solution not the problem. We try to let the inmate know that writing, like all forms of sharing, helps us as much as it helps him or her.
8. Most correctional facilities have rules for sending literature. Many correctional facilities will only allow literature that is sent directly from the publishers so you should check with the facility before mailing any books or literature. Photocopies are usually accepted.
9. CA members with clearance in that particular correctional facility are not permitted to correspond with the inmates in that facility.
10. Never agree to contact anyone on behalf of an inmate.
11. Do not criticise or make derogatory remarks about the facility, its personnel or any of its policies and practices. This includes opinions about pills, anti-depressants, tranquilisers and anti abuse.
12. Never give medical or legal advice. Do not promise inmates jobs or aid of any kind.
13. Be reliable – if you have agreed to correspond with an inmate. You are representing the CA fellowship as a whole and you are offering hope and a solution to that inmate. It is important to be committed to your service.
14. Encourage the inmate to participate in twelve step meetings available to them in the facility.
15. Prior to their release we strongly suggest sending them a relevant meetings list. It is important for them to have knowledge of meetings that will be in their local area.
Thank you for your willingness to share in this most important work. Those who have participated in this service have found sharing with inmates a very gratifying form of Twelfth Step work. It is our hope that in our correspondence we will help the suffering addict find the solution that we have found.