Family Council

The Department of Corrections (DOC) recognizes the benefits when inmate's maintain family relationships during incarceration and supervision and acknowledges the many barriers that make maintaining these relationships difficult. In an effort to address these barriers, the Department established and maintains family councils.

• About Family Councils
• Local Family Councils
• Statewide Family Council

About Family Councils

Family councils advise, collaborate, problem solve, and partner with the Department and the community to:

• Improve communications with the Department,
• Create opportunities to strengthen family and community connections,
• Improve quality of life for those incarcerated,
• Promote successful reentry,
• Provide family input on related policies and operational memorandums, and
• Address local and statewide issues/concerns that affect a broad range of those incarcerated and their families

Family is broadly defined to include immediate, extended, and elected family members, such as romantic partners, friends, neighbors, and clergy. Department employees and council members work together to bring awareness to the family councils to encourage participation. (Participation is strictly voluntary.)

Local Family Councils

Each prison facility maintains a Local Family Council (LFC). Family council meetings provide opportunity for family members to ask questions, get information, and share their perspective of the facility. All approved visitors may attend a family council meeting.

In addition to family members, meetings are generally attended by the facility Superintendent or Associate Superintendent, Visiting Program staff representative, Family Services Program staff representative, and others as needed. At most facilities participants can attend in person or over the phone by calling in on a toll free number.

Scheduled Meetings, Agendas & Minutes

The LFC Facility Secretary and Family Secretary member officers will each take minutes during the meeting, and then will work together to finalize a single draft of official minutes using DOC 03-513 Family Council Meeting Minutes.

Up to two years meeting's agendas and minutes will be posted for each LFC. See the LFC Representatives with questions.

See the Statewide Family Council Calendar (pdf) and Local Family Council Calendar (pdf) for all meeting dates.

Membership

Family members who want to become a council member and take an active leadership role must be an approved visitor and agree to the following:

• One year commitment
• Attend scheduled meetings
• Wear designated identification when performing local council functions
• Support the efforts of the local council
• Able to demonstrate the ability to work with respect, common courtesy, and good judgment.

Statewide Family Council

The Department maintains a Statewide Family Council (SFC) comprised of one elected representative from each Local Family Council (LFC), along with the Statewide Program Manager. Any family member who is approved to visit an inmate housed in a Department facility may attend an SFC meeting as a participant.

Meeting Details

Meeting Schedule & Materials
See the Statewide Family Council Calendar (pdf) for all statewide and local council meeting dates.
March 21, 2020	Meeting cancelled due to DOC focusing efforts and time to COVID-19
January 11, 2020	Agenda	Minutes
November 16, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
September 28, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
July 13, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
May 18, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
March 16, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
February 23, 2019		Executive Session Minutes
January 19, 2019	Agenda	Minutes
November 17, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
September 15, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
July 21, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
May 19, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
March 17, 2018	Agenda	Minutes
January 20, 2018	Agenda	Minutes