Catawba Nation Second Chance Reentry Program

Connecting Culture and Quality of Life to Reduce Recidivism and Increase Success:

Building a Reentry Program

A BJA FY21 Second Chance Act Community-Based Reentry Program

U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs

&

The Catawba Indian Nation

Proposal Abstract

The Catawba Nation has long experienced the co-occurring challenges of educational barriers, substance use, physical and mental healthcare disparities, housing crises, lack of family support, and the revolving doors of incarceration impacting its citizens since colonization. Repeating the exact reactive “solutions” and expecting different outcomes is no longer an option. The Catawba Nation endeavors to help heal and support tribal citizens facing these challenges while significantly reducing the recidivism rate. This proposal supports a Second Chance, Community-based Reentry Program for Catawba citizens struggling with criminogenic risk factors and who are in danger of first time and continued incarceration.

The Catawba Nation proposes to forge an official partnership with the South Carolina Department of Corrections through an official Memorandum of Agreement to:

Identify incarcerated tribal citizens in South Carolina
Create pathways for incarcerated tribal citizens to engage in culturally relevant and holistic support services that positively impact the tribal recidivism rate
Develop, implement, and learn from evaluative tools that inform evidence-based data for program replication, lessons learned and healing within the tribal community

This project will establish a supportive structure for tribal citizens to access as they transition from incarceration while creating new pathways for future generations to thrive, free from the criminal justice system.