OST PA3 Tribal Justice System Program

CTAS Application Cover Sheet

Federally Recognized Tribe
    The Oglala Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized tribe located in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota. With the requested CTAS Purpose Area #3 funding, OST will address identified problems across multiple dimensions. Firstly, OST will hire a two full-time (2.0 FTE) Probation Officers who will help to connect probationers with services and ensure compliance with their court-ordered compliance requirements. More specifically, Probation Officers will assist in the rehabilitation of offenders in the Oglala Court system and help to formulate rehabilitation and treatment plans for offenders, including the terms of conditional release involving living, education, and employment stipulations. Probation Officers, assigned to cover the Eastern and Western portions of the reservation will supervise offenders to ensure adherence to terms of probation or diversion, maintaining records of offender's activities, referring offenders to additional supportive programs and conferring with law enforcement and court personnel in matters pertaining to violation of probation or diversion. Probation Officers will handle both adult and juvenile cases in their assigned jurisdiction (Eastern or Western). 
    OST also proposed to hire a full-time Public Defender (1.0 FTE) who will provide direct representation services and support to adult/juvenile offenders. The Public Defender will work tirelessly to reduce sentencing ordered by the OST Court, enabling addiction cases to result in orders to seek treatment, counseling, parenting training, mediation, restorative justice and any other court-ordered assistance outside the scope of the court system. Public Defender support in these arenas will assist with the Peacemaking Court and other forms of restorative justice including Tribal Healing and Wellness Court activities. The benefits of staffing this position cannot be over stated. The direct support offenders and their families receive, including ensuring sentencing efforts are appropriate and aligned to healing and reduction of recidivism, can often make the difference in whether an offender decides to commit another crime, or sustains a path of restoration and healing.
    Included within our funding request is training and professional development in substance abuse and prevention for Probation Officers and the Public Defender, with the aim of ensuring that our personnel are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills they require to effectively manage these cases and prevent them from advancing to the court level to the highest, reasonably possible degree. We are also requesting funds from alcohol and substance abuse strategic planning, so that we may design a long-term strategic plan to tackle these ongoing issues.
    Tools that will assist in these efforts (also included in our funding request) include ankle monitors and Systems Alcohol and Location Monitoring (SCRAM) equipment. The acquisition of this equipment help to reduce recidivism, and will decrease the Tribe's overall budget and allow those funds to more effectively allocated towards community safety. 

Additional question for applicants in multiple purpose areas:
Funding for Purpose Area #3 will enhance safety across all regions, however, securing this funding is not crucial for the successful implementation of Purpose Area #1 or Purpose Area #8.