General Norms of the
Association of Prison Volunteers

Part I - On Aims

1.1 We came together so that our commitment for the benefit of the residents and ex-residents of the Facility, and of their families, shall have the strength of unity.

1.2 Our common commitment aims at the security, control and justice of all the residents of the Facility, and of all those who work therein, and so that they shall improve in their spiritual and material good.

1.3 Our commitment is addressed also towards the victims of crime, both those who suffered an offence from the crime of someone else, and also the families of the Facility's residents themselves, who undergo a sentence without ever committing a crime.

1.4 For the good of society we help the Facility's authorities and Government in any way we can in order to improve the corrective system.

Part II - On Activities

2.1 The Association coordinates activities that member organisations and individual members organise together.

2.2 Amongst the activities of the Association there shall be the following:

(1) Improve the relationships between member organisation and individual persons through social and familiar activities;

(2) Support the authorities of the Facility and Government, and exert due pressure where necessary, for the improvement of the corrective system;

(3) Call for the necessary measures for the improvement of security, control and justice within the Corradino Correctional Facility;

(4) Give attention to those who have suffered from crime, including the families of the Facility's residents;

(5) Assist the reconciliation between those who have committed a crime and those who suffered the crime; and

(6) Organise at least once a year a National Conference on a theme related to corrective facilities.

2.3 The activities of the Association shall be financed by the equal share of member organisations and individual members.

Part III - On Membership

3.1 Membership shall be granted to groups or individual persons who, irrespective of their denomination, visit the Corrective Facility voluntarily on a regular basis for at least four months.

3.2 The Association shall have the right, on the basis of valid reasons, to accept or deny any group or individual from being amongst its members.

3.3 The Association shall have no right whatsoever to interfere in the aims, membership, management, activities and the financial functioning of any member group or individual member.

3.4 The Association shall have no proper centre of its own except that of its member organisations or individual members.

Part IV - On Management

4.1 The Association shall have a Representative Committee that shall represent all member organisations and individual members.

4.2 (1) Every member organisation shall have one member on the Committee as its delegate with one vote; and

(2) All individual members who visit the Facility on a personal basis shall have one member representing them on the Committee with a right to vote.

4.3 Member organisations shall appoint from amongst their members their delegate on the Committee preferably for one year with a right of indefinite renewal.

4.4 Member organisation may send other members to take part in the proceedings of the Committee as observers without a right to vote.

4.5 The Representative Committee:

(a) Meets every two months, or as need be;

(b) Shall have these offices:

• Chairperson
• Vice-Chairperson
• Secretary
• PRO, and
• Financial Officer

(c) Can be called urgently by the Chairperson in capite; and

(d) Form a quorum when half the members and one are present.

4.6 The chairpersonship shall rotate amongst the member organisations every six months in a pre-established order. Member organisations may opt not to exercise this right. The vice-chairpersonship shall be held by that member organisation that is to have the chairpersonship in the following six months.

4.7 If anyone whose turn it is to be Chairperson ceases to be delegate of his organisation, the post of Chairperson shall pass to another organisation, and the new member takes the post of Chairperson at some later period.

4.8 The offices of Secretary, PRO, and Financial Officer shall be occupied by any other three members of the Committee.

4.9 The duties of the Chairperson shall be to see that these General Norms are observed, to summon and preside over the meetings of the Committee, and represent the Association at official occasions.

4.10 The duty of the Vice-Chairperson shall be to act on the Chairperson's behalf in his absence.

4.11 The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep the minutes of Committee meetings, to sign and file correspondence, and summon Committee meetings on behalf of the Chairperson.

4.12 The duty of the Public Relations Officer shall be to distribute statements or documents issued by the Association as agreed at Committee meetings.

4.13 The duty of the Financial Officer shall be to take care all financial transections at occasions organised by the Association.

4.14 Committee decisions shall be taken with an absolute majority of one half plus one. The Chairperson, apart from his vote as delegate of his organisation, shall vote again in the case of a tied vote.

4.15 The Representative Committee shall have the right and duty every individual member or member organisation which, in its opinion, shall not be behaving in the best interest of the Association.

4.16 Close of the end of its year of activity, the Representative Committee shall summon a General Meetings for all member organisation and individual members, in which a detailed report of activities shall be given.