Hospitals and Institutions PDF Handout
click here to download a pdf of H & I Handout
DO’s AND DON’Ts FOR H&I WORK IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Do follow the guidance found in the WSC H&I Handbook
The World Service Conference H&I Committee has compiled this list based upon the experiences of subcommittees around the world that have sent input on H&I service matters. They provide some very helpful guidelines, and should help you avoid some of the common pitfalls.
Correctional Facility Rules
- Do Attempt to get all agreements in writing
- Do Clarify the rules with whomever you bring into the facility
- Do Adhere to the security regulations at all times
- Do Arrive early to satisfy security requirements
- Do Keep staff informed of your whereabouts
- Do Obey the dress code, exercise common sense
Panel Leaders and Members
- Do Screen all panel members, speakers, and chairperson(s)
- Do Always clear a member who is on parole/probation with the facility and parole/probation officer
- Do Adhere to clean time requirements of the correctional facility and of the H&I committee
- Do Ensure that a clear NA message of recovery is carried by all panel members
- Do Choose panel members and speakers according to H&I guidelines Literature
- Do Provide NA literature for correctional facility meetings
- Do Make directories of outside meetings available to the inmates
- Do Use NA literature recommended for H&I work and stamp all literature with the local phoneline number
- Do Provide facilities with literature order forms and encourage them to supply their own
NA literature Correctional Facility Meetings
- Do Start and end on time
- Do Explain briefly in the meeting format what H&I is
- Do Clearly state that Narcotics Anonymous is separate from the correctional facility and from other fellowships
- Do Emphasize that NA recovery is available to all addicts regardless of drug(s) used
- Do Explain the language that we use (addict, clean, recovery, clean time) and why we use it (the First Step of NA, and the Sixth Tradition of NA)
Inmates Meeting Participation
- Do Involve inmates with the meeting, especially those in long-term facilities (readings, etc.)
- Do Emphasize the importance of attending a Narcotics Anonymous meeting the first day out of the facility
Panel Leaders and Members
- Don’t Allow a member who has outstanding warrants to participate in a correctional facility meeting
- Don’t Bring any contraband items or weapons into the facility
- Don’t Take messages or carry letters in or out of the correctional facility
- Don’t Show favoritism to any inmates
- Don’t Bring an NA member who has friends and/or family in the correctional facility
- Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t carry excessive cash
- Don’t Use excessive profanity
- Don’t Attend H&I facilities alone
- Don’t Debate any issues involving the correctional facility’s rules, regulations, programs, and other
fellowships with inmates and staff - Don’t Discuss conditions within the correctional facility
- Don’t Discuss correctional facility staff members with inmate(s)
- Don’t Discuss inmate(s) with correctional facility staff members
- Don’t Sponsor inmate(s) in the correctional facility that you are attending as an H&I member
- Don’t Accept money or gifts from, or give money or gifts to any inmate
Meeting Guidelines
- Don’t Give anyone within the correctional facility your address or telephone number
- Don’t Provide anyone with another NA member’s address or telephone number
- Don’t Bring in anyone who is not supposed to be there (newcomers, friends, guests)
- Don’t Ask what type of crime an inmate has been convicted of, or discuss guilt or innocence
- Don’t Break another person’s anonymity
- Don’t Emphasize ‘using days’ while sharing an NA message of recovery