CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this association shall be the Wisconsin Correctional Association, Inc., a state chapter of the American Correctional Association.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1. To provide a focal point for the identification of interests and concerns of corrections in Wisconsin.

Section 2. To provide an opportunity for active participation in professional development for those employed or interested in corrections in Wisconsin.

Section 3. To provide a forum for the Wisconsin correctional community to have a voice on policy issues at the national level.

Section 4. To provide an arena for members of the professional correctional community to address common issues.

Section 5. To provide an avenue to participate in improving the Wisconsin criminal justice system.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all persons who are interested in and supportive of the Association, who subscribe to the Association's Constitution and by-laws, and those who pay annual dues.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Types of Membership: The Board of Directors shall designate membership categories, as necessary, to coincide with those provided for in the by-laws of the American Correctional Association.

Section 2. Maintenance of Membership: The Board of Directors shall have the power and responsibility to terminate the membership of an Association member for non-payment of dues or for behavior that conflicts with the Association’s Constitution and/or by-laws, or for conduct that is in violation of the American Correctional Association Code of Ethics.

Section 3. Membership Fees: There shall be a fee approved by the Board of Directors per calendar year for each category of membership. These fees shall provide dual membership and privileges in the American Correctional Association and the Wisconsin Correctional Association, Inc. with fees being distributed as provided in the by-laws of the American Correctional Association.

Section 4. A member is in good standing when dues are paid meets the responsibility of Section 2.

ARTICLE II. GOVERNMENT

Section 1. Governing Body: The Association shall be governed by the membership of the Association, the Officers, and the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Officers:

A. The officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.

B. Only persons who are Professional Members in good standing shall be eligible for office.

C. The Officers shall be elected as prescribed in Article V of these by-laws.

D. Term of office of each elected officer shall be two years following installation (or until the end of the respective term of the predecessor if the person shall not have completed such term) and until the election of a successor.

E. In the event of death, disability, incapacity, or resignation, these offices shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of these terms.

Section 3. Duties of Officers: The duties of the officers shall be such as are implied in their respective titles and as specified in official position descriptions, developed and formally approved by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall keep accurate records of his/her work and turn them over to his/her successor.

ARTICLE III: REGIONAL GOVERNMENT

In order to provide a forum for discussion of regional issues and to assure statewide representation at Association activities, the State may be divided into regions. Regional areas may be created or amended on a recommendation of the Board of Directors at the annual conference with an affirmative majority vote of the Association members present and voting. A regional organization may also be created or amended as stipulated in Article X-Amendments.

ARTICLE IV: ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. Representation from Various Disciplines: All Officers of the Association shall be elected for a term of two years from the following major disciplines of the criminal justice field:

A. Prevention and Community Based Services

B. Local Detention-Adult/Juvenile

C. Youth Services

D. Adult Probation and Parole

E. Adult Institutions

F. Administrative and Support

G. Education (Including educators and students)

The desire to have a balanced representation from the various fields, although not controlling, should be a consideration in the nominating process.

Section 2. Mail Balloting: Election of all officers shall be by a ballot mailed to each member eligible to vote. Such ballot shall contain a slate of candidates for each office drawn up by the Nominating Committee and shall be a plurality of those voting. Procedures for counting the mail ballots will be established by the Board of Directors in accordance with the procedure for a mailed secret ballot outlined in the parliamentary authority of the Association, “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.”

Ballots will be mailed to voting members at least 45 days prior to the annual conference. The marked ballot shall be returned to a place designated by the Board of Directors no later than two (2) weeks prior to the annual conference. There will be no voting by proxy. Elections to positions not heretofore provided for by this Constitution or by-laws shall be held at the annual conference.

Section 3. Installation: The Officers and members of the Board of Directors shall be installed at the annual conference and shall assume their respective duties prior to adjournment of the annual conference.

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Composition: The Board of Directors shall consist of eleven (11) members, including the elected officers of the Association and the Past President. Additionally, there should be five (5) at large members on the Board. These members shall reflect, to the degree possible, the private, federal, state and county interests. All members of the Board have the right to vote.

Section 2. Terms of Office:

A. The term of office for the Past President and the at large members of the Board of Directors will be two-year terms, or as otherwise specified in these by-laws.

B. The election of the Board of Directors shall be as outlined in Article IV of these by-laws.

Section 3. Vacancies: In the event of death, disability, incapacity, or resignation, the seat on the Board of Directors shall be filled in accordance with Article II, Section 2 of these by-laws.

Section 4. Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors:

A. Powers: The Board of Directors shall exercise all powers of the Association as specified in these by-laws.

B. Duties: The Board of Directors shall:

1) Supervise the affairs of the Association and shall transact any business of the Association in the interim between the annual conference.

2) Make recommendations to the Association regarding proposed amendments to the by-laws.

3) Consider all recommendations proposed by committee chairpersons, or by the Association, before such recommendations are presented at the annual conference.

4) Establish and/or dissolve committees and task forces based on the program and administrative needs of the Association.

5) Have responsibility for the financial policy of the association, adopt the budget, and prepare an annual financial report to be available to all Association members.

6) Supervise and support programs for the recruitment of new members.

7) Be responsible for all other business of the Association that fulfills Association purposes.

8) Through the President, represent the position of the Wisconsin Correctional Association.

Section 5. Meetings of the Board of Directors:

A. The Board of Directors shall hold quarterly meetings, one of which shall be at the annual conference.

B. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President or by petition of the majority of the Board.

C. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.

D. The meetings conducted by the Board of Directors shall be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.”

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Section 1. Formation of Standing Committees: The President of the Association shall appoint the Chairperson of each standing committee and shall have final approval of all committee members. In making appointments to standing committees, the President shall give consideration to:

A. Representation of a variety of criminal justice work

B. Geographic distribution

C. Special competence

D. Membership in good standing

Section 2. Other Committee and Task Forces: The President shall appoint from time to time such other committees or task forces as may be desirable in forwarding the purposes of the Association. Members of such committees or task forces shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the President. Members of such committees or task forces need not be members of the Board of Directors, but shall be members of the Association. The Board of Directors shall review annually the composition and duties of such committees or task forces.

Section 3. Term of Office: The term of office for each committee or task force member shall be one year, with the exception of the Finance committee, whose members are appointed to three year terms. Members may be re-appointed.

Section 4. Committee Reports: All committees and task forces shall file written reports to the Board of Directors at least annually and shall present oral reports when requested.

Section 5. Duties of Standing Committees:

A. Conference Committee: It shall be the duty of the Conference Committee to plan a well coordinated association program consistent with the objectives of the Association and to accept bids from any interested city in choosing the site for the Association’s Annual Conference. There shall be at least three planning meetings a year to prepare for the annual conference.

B. Nominating Committee: It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to coordinate the screening, selection, and election of nominees for all elected offices. There shall be a minimum of two nominees for each office. The immediate Past President shall be the Chairperson of this committee. Members of the Nominating Committee cannot be nominated for state office.

C. Membership Committee: It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to promote participation in the Association.

D. Constitution and by-laws Committee: It shall be the duty of the Constitution and by-laws Committee to study the Association’s Constitution and by-laws and to propose whatever revisions appear necessary.

E. Finance Committee: It shall be the duty of the Committee of Finance to review all financial records of the Association, to prepare a budget which is submitted to the Board of Directors and the President for approval, to recommend changes to forms/procedures for financial reporting and to recommend new forms when necessary. There shall be three members, each one having a three-year term. Not less than once a year, they shall review all financial records of the association to ensure that all receipts and disbursements had been made in accordance with budget and direction of the President and the Board. The committee shall review and approve the Treasurer’s annual report as well as review and approve income tax filing.

F. Scholarship Committee: It is the responsibility of this committee to develop, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the criteria for evaluating competitors for the Association’s scholarship fund. The committee will recommend to the Board of Directors the number and dollar amount of awards to be given away annually. The committee will consist of four members. The committee will have sole responsibility for the selection of recipients.

G. Workshop Committee: This committee is responsible for the planning of Association sponsored workshops. Duties include arranging for workshop sites, securing presenters, printing and dissemination of workshop brochures, and coordinating registration activities. Sufficient members will be assigned to accomplish the listed goals efficiently.

ARTICLE VII: CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Conference: There shall be an annual conference at a site approved by the Board of Directors. The details of the conference shall be prepared and disseminated to the membership at least two (2) months in advance.

Section 2. Delegates to the Annual Congress of Corrections: The State Association may send any of its member(s) as delegate(s) to the annual Congress of Corrections of the American Correctional Association each year. Delegate expenses may be defrayed by the Association if funds are available.

Section 3. Association Meetings: Meetings of the general membership to conduct necessary association business may be called at the discretion of the President. Written notice shall be mailed to each association member 30 days prior to the date of said meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: INCORPORATION

This association shall be incorporated as a non-profit organization under the laws of Wisconsin.

ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION

If the corporation should dissolve, all assets remaining after the payment of all debts and obligations shall be assigned and transferred to the American Correctional Association, a section 501(C)(3)(Internal Revenue Code) organization currently located at 4380 Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, Maryland 20706. In the event that the American Correctional Association is no longer in existence, transfer will be made to another educational endeavor in the field of corrections.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by action of the general membership.

Section 2. Amendments shall be recommended by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Constitution and by-laws Committee for recommendation to the Board of Directors. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, proposed amendments shall be presented to the general membership by mail ballot, or voice vote, and upon approval by a majority of those voting, the amendment shall be adopted. The effective date of the amendment shall be contained with the amendment. If amendment changes are conducted by mail ballot, the membership shall be mailed their ballots forty-five (45) days prior to the ballot due date. If amendment changes are conducted at the general membership meetings, members will be mailed a copy of the proposed changes thirty (30) days prior to such a meeting.

ARTICLE XI: MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1. No association member may speak on behalf of the Association without the authorization of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The fiscal year of the association shall be January 1 thru December 31.

Revised Jan. 2002.

Proposed effective date: May 1, 2002