CFC Report from the Akron Convention

CFC offers assistance to those who carry the message of Twelve Step recovery into the prisons. During the past year, we have responded to requests for literature and for help in starting prison meetings from many different states and other countries. By keeping true to the Traditions—we do not govern—we lack an accurate count of the number of SA meetings currently active in federal, state, and local prisons. Our best guess is that there are more than 20 prison-led meetings in 10 different states. Some have been meeting for almost ten years. We recently received a request from a fairly new prison group in Pennsylvania that is looking for an Intergroup that they can become a part of.

At the Akron convention, a Seventh Tradition was held for CFC after the Friday night meal. Those in attendance gave $3,060.00—almost double any previous collection. We thank you and so will those prisoners who will receive free literature.

Also at Akron, an SA shared an issue that his home group struggles with. One member, who has the desire to follow our program of recovery, is 17 years old. Other members worry that including a minor in an SA meeting could lead to legal problems, especially if the group contains convicted sex offenders.

They also wonder what can be done for a minor who desires help recovering from sexual addiction. The vast majority of Step One stories we hear include formative incidents in the person’s childhood. If a minor recognizes he or she has our problem, how can that person work the Steps and attend meetings?

This brings up the question of sharing about illegal activities at meetings. We attempt to be anonymous and declare that “what we say here, let it stay here,” but there is no legal guarantee of privacy such as with a priest or lawyer. A member could potentially share about a slip that involves illegal activity, and those in attendance could be called to testify in a legal proceeding. Some members are in professions which compel them to report suspected abuse. I know of no incident where this has happened in an SA meeting, but it has happened in AA groups.

We continue to receive new members whose acting out has involved illegal actions, so the potential will remain. As has been recommended by others, we recommend that local groups add a statement to their opening readings such as, “Please do not share about illegal activities that have not been adjudicated in court.”

Also, in sharing, details such as names, dates, times, places, and specific activities should be omitted, thus legally rendering the share inadmissible in court. And as old-timers have said: “Take your message to the meeting, and your mess to your sponsor.”

The CFC is working to bring together the collective experience, strength, and hope of people who have worked the SA program while in prison and those on the outside who have carried the message to prisoners. Our long-term plan is to compile ideas that work well and those that don’t. Then when we receive a request for assistance in starting a prison meeting, we will have more experience to offer. We also want to bring together the stories of those who have worked their Steps in prison.

If you have any experience, strength, or hope on these issues, please email them to the Correctional Facilities Committee at saico@sa.org or send by regular mail to PO Box 3565, Brentwood, TN 37024-3565, USA.