Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was the first group to be introduced for people who have
substance abuse disorders. The AA group was developed by Bill Wilson and Dr Bob Smith in
the year1934 in Akron, Ohio. The two were alcoholics and developed the group after realizing
that alcoholism was a disease and not a moral failing as widely thought. Bill Wilson and Dr Bob
Smith found out that an alcoholic could only be sober by searching diligently through themselves
then begin being of service to others (Humphreys, Ferri, & Kelly, 2017). AA remains to be the
widely known group despite others like Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Narcotics Anonymous
(NA) being in existence. The only requirement for one to be a member of the AA group is a
desire to stop drinking. Upon obtaining membership of AA program, an individual is taken
through 12 steps of recovery. AA programs have traditions that were introduced in 1946 for the
purpose of unifying fellowships and preventing influence from outside (Humphreys, Ferri, &
Kelly, 2017). The traditions of AA are built on the principles such as members should try to help
other alcoholics, remain anonymous in public media, and avoid official affiliation with other
organizations. This paper aims at discussing the benefits of AA to prisoners, those on probation,
and those being incarcerated back into the society, AA confession traditions, Paul Cox’s case and
outcome, and the effect of the Paul Cox’s case on people attending AA/NA. Alcoholics Anonymous;

Benefits of AA to prisoners and those on probation
The first AA inmates’ meeting was formed in 1942 in San Quentin Prison by the San
Francisco Group of Alcoholics (Trope et al., 2019). As of 2019, the United States had the highest
number of inmates with approximately 2.3 million inmates. Out of the 2.3 million inmates, 1.5
million were reported to have alcoholism disorder (Sawyer & Wangner, 2019). Other 458,000
had a history of substance abuse or were under the influence of alcohol at the time of committing
crimes. I once attended an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting in St. Thomas Church on Friday the 7 th February 2020. St. Thomas Church is located in 1 West 53 rd street, New York City, New
York, 10103 and the meeting begun at 19.00 hours. The telephone number is (888)-327-9107. I
can say without doubt or fear of contradiction that AA program is the best for inmates more so
those who ended there after committing crimes under the influence of alcohol. People who attend
the AA meetings are able to live a more serene life during the incarceration period. Alcoholics Anonymous
A study by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) observed that
approximately 10 percent of inmates who attended the AA programs enjoyed long-term success
in their recovery (Galanter, 2020). A good percentage of those on probation were able to remain
sober for more than two decades. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), people who attended AA meetings had a better
chance of being sober compared to others who just received formal treatment (Kelly, 2017). Alcoholics Anonymous
How AA meetings would help people who are being reintegrated
Reintegration is the process through which criminals are brought back to the society after
serving their jail terms. The number of reintegrate has increased rapidly in the United States over
the past few decades. Studies show that the number of those being reintegrated and those under
probation in America increased from 1.84 million in 1980 to approximately 6.85 million in 2014
(Schanzenbch, 2016). AA programs help those being reintegrated to live sober lives, avoid
actions that may lead to relapse, and lead other victims to sobriety. Living sober lives reduces the
prevalence of crime. Through AA meetings, people being reintegrated also go back to the society
with total transformation in behavior and character. They also go back to the society as believers.

AA confession traditions
Priests are under oath of office not to disclose the contents of confession even if the crime
committed is a heinous one. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is different from the Christianity Faith
as one must confess. Confession is in the 5 th step of the total 12 stages. Through confession, we
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs”
(McCabe, 2018). The confession stage is said to provide spiritual, mental, and emotional relief to
a person charged with a criminal offense. The aspect of shame and guilt begin to melt away after
confession. Confession here is not made to one person as in the Christianity Faith; instead, it is
made to all offenders. Confession is a prerequisite for staying sober and staying sober, a
prerequisite for fulfilling recovery. Alcoholics Anonymous Read more
Paul Cox’s case
Paul Cox was in company of two of his friends at a keg party near Larchmont, New
York. This was the night before the New Year’s Eve, 1988. Bear ran out in the bar they were
drinking and so they went to another bar in New Rochelle where they continued drinking. On
their way back, the three passed the home of Drs. Lakshman and Shantu Chervu as they heads
towards Cox’s parent’s house. Cox was still living in his parent’s compound. Cox’s parents had
lived in Larchmont home of Drs. Lakshman and Shantu Chervu before they sold the house in
1974 (Beyond Belief, n.d). Cox smashed a window, armed himself with a butcher’s knife from
the kitchen and made his way into Shantu Chervu’s bedroom. Cox stabbed Shantu Chervu who
sat on the bed. The commotion in the house woke Lakshman up and Cox stabbed him a number
of times. Cox then slit the throats of the two and tried to hide the evidence by cleaning the
surface. He thereafter went back to his parents’ house and passed out (Beyond Belief, n.d). The bodies of the two were discovered two days later by the police. The investigations took four years to identify a suspect in the murder case. During the four years, Cox experienced anxiety-ridden dreams and paranoia. It dawned to him that he might have killed Lakshman and Shantu Chervu. Few years later, Cox told a man he was staying with that he killed the couple, threw the knife into Long Island Sound, and burned the clothes covered with blood. Cox then
begun to attend AA meetings in the spring of 1990 (Beyond Belief, n.d). Even though he did not
like the religiosity of the meetings, he continued to attend as he had begun controlling his
drinking habits. He was in stage four and five of AA program when he told her girlfriend that he
had killed the Lakshman and Shantu Chervu. Cox continued to confess to other AA members
that he had killed the Chervus couple. A woman talked to Cox and his roommate about her
intentions to move in with them. Cox narrated the same case of murder to the women before they
moved in together (Beyond Belief, n.d). Two months later, the woman left for her parent’s house
due to health complications. She later went and reported Cox to Mamaroneck Police Department
of New York. Cox was then arrested on 20 th May, 1993. After a series of legal procedures, Cox
was sentenced for 20 years in jail and was released on 3 rd March, 2015 (Beyond Belief, n.d). Order here

Effect of the Paul Cox’s case on people attending AA/NA
I think Cox’s case can deter people from attending AA/NA meetings. This is because you
may not know much about those you are opening up to. Cox was opening up to facilitate
mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healing. His confession however, was reported to the
police department by a woman who moved in with them. This case can therefore deter people
from confessing

In conclusion, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a program to help alcoholics who have the
desire to stop drinking. Members of AA should remain anonymous in public media, and avoid
official affiliation with other organizations. AA program is the best for inmates more so those
who ended there after committing crimes under the influence of alcohol. Studies shows that
approximately 10 percent of inmates who attended the AA programs enjoyed long-term success
in their recovery. People who attended AA meetings are also said to have a better chance of
being sober compared to others who just received formal treatment. Through AA meetings,
people being reintegrated go back to the society with total transformation in behavior and
character. Cox killed Lakshman and Shantu Chervu under the influence of alcohol. Cox
confessed to AA members about the incidence and was later jailed for 20 years. Cox’s case can
deter people from confessing as the confession can be used against them.