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, and they are in compliance with Section 2.

ARTICLE II. GOVERNMENT

Section 1. Governing Body

The Association shall be governed by the membership of the Association and the Board of Directors. The Officers shall serve as the executive leadership under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Officers

A.      A. The officers of the Association shall be a Past-President, 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 IV 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 installation 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.

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 the 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 on the recommendation of the Board of Directors at the annual conference with an affirmative majority vote of the Association members present and voting.

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. Balloting

Election of all officers and at-large Board members shall be by electronic or physical ballot delivered to each member eligible to vote. Such ballot shall contain a slate of candidates for each open position drawn up by the Nominating Committee. A plurality of those voting shall be required for election. The Board of Directors shall establish secure and verifiable procedures for counting the ballots, which must comply with the requirements for a secret ballot outlined in the parliamentary authority of the Association, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

The election for the President-Elect shall be concluded such that the winner can be announced and sworn in at the Annual Conference.

The election for the remaining Officers and At-Large Board Members shall be concluded such that the winners can be announced prior to the Fall Retreat, where they will be sworn in.

An electronic voting process will occur with the process beginning no less than 45 days prior to the Annual Conference and concluding no less than 14 days prior to the Annual Conference. Ballots will be made available to voting members via an electronic voting process that ensures only one vote per member and confidentiality for who each member voted for. There will be no voting by proxy. Elections to positions not heretofore provided for by these bylaws shall be held at the annual conference.

Section 3. Quorum for Elections:

The election shall be valid regardless of the number of ballots cast, provided that the Board of Directors (or a designated Teller’s Committee) certifies that the balloting procedure was properly conducted and all eligible voting members were afforded the opportunity to vote as prescribed by these bylaws. The candidates shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast.

Section 4. Installation:

The President-Elect shall be installed at the Annual Conference and shall assume their respective duties prior to adjournment of the Annual Conference.

The Board Officers and At-Large Board Members shall be installed at the Fall Retreat following their election and shall assume their respective duties at that time.

Section 5. Competition for an Open Position

A member currently serving a two-year elected term is eligible to be nominated for and compete for a different open position one (1) year into their current term.

A. Winning the New Position: If the member wins the election for the new position, they shall immediately resign from their current office or at-large Board member position upon installation into the new position, thereby creating a vacancy in their former position. This vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Article V, Section 3.

B. Losing the New Position: If the member does not win the election for the new position, they shall continue to serve the remainder of their original elected term.

Article V: Board of Directors

This article clarifies the distinction between Officers and other Board members is solidified, and the vacancy clause is simplified to refer to the correct sections for both Officers and At-Large members.

Section 1. Composition

The Board of Directors shall consist of eleven (11) voting members: the five (5) elected Officers (President, President-Elect, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer), the Past President, and five (5) At-Large Members. 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: (Revised)

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. The term for other officers and At-Large Board Member shall commence upon their installation at the Fall Retreat and shall continue until the installation of their successor at a subsequent Fall Retreat.

B. The election of the Board of Directors shall be as outlined in Article IV of these by-laws. At-Large Board Members are elected by electronic vote and installed at the Fall Retreat.

Section 3. Vacancies

In the event of death, disability, incapacity, or resignation:

A. Officer Vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term, in accordance with Article II, Section 2(E).

B. At-Large Member and Past President Vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term. When filling such a vacancy, the Board shall elect a replacement by a majority vote of the directors present and voting.

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 conference consistent with the objectives of the Association. The committee shall and to consider bids from any interested venue that can meet the needs and objectives of the Wisconsin Correctional Association and the goals for the Association’s Annual Conference. There shall be no fewer than three Planning Meetings each year to prepare for the annual conference. The conference committee will make a recommendation to the board regarding the location for the conference as well as the information of any venue that offered a bid. The awarded location is to be selected through the motion process as defined by Roberts Rules of Order.

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 Nominating Committee shall endeavor to provide a minimum of two (2) qualified nominees for each open office or at-large Board position. 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 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 both the 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 206 N. Washington Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. 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 that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization.

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. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, proposed amendments shall be presented to the general membership by electronic or physical 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 within the amendment. If amendment changes are conducted by electronic or physical ballot, the membership shall be delivered 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: 3/27/2026

Proposed effective date: 4/1/2026

Article X: Amendments

This article is updated to reflect that amendments may be voted on through an electronic ballot.

Section 3. Proposed Amendments

Upon approval by the Board of Directors, proposed amendments shall be presented to the general membership by electronic or physical 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 electronic or physical ballot, the membership shall be delivered 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.

Compliance with Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR)

The proposed changes are consistent with RONR principles:

1. Online/Electronic Voting (Section IV.2 & X.3): RONR permits electronic voting, provided that the system ensures the integrity of the vote (ensuring only eligible members vote) and the secrecy of the ballot, if a secret ballot is required. By requiring the Board to establish secure and verifiable procedures compliant with RONR, this is achieved.

2. Clarifying Officers vs. Board Members (Article II & V): RONR defines a Board of Directors as an administrative body acting on behalf of the general membership and Officers as the executive arm. The revisions clarify that Officers are a subset of the voting Board, which aligns perfectly with standard parliamentary structure.

3. Cross-Term Competition (Section IV.4): RONR does not prohibit an elected member from resigning an office to seek another, and it provides for filling vacancies that result from such a resignation. The new Section IV.4 handles the two possible outcomes (win or loss) explicitly, which creates clear, pre-approved rules for the situation, preventing any procedural confusion or need for a ruling by the President during an election. The vacancy created by a win is handled by referring to the existing vacancy section. This is a sound parliamentary practice.