The St. Croix Tribal Offender Reintegration Program will assist an under-resourced population of Native American community members in establishing healthy lives following incarceration.

PROJECT ABSTRACT

Second Chance Act Innovative Reentry Initiative: Building System Capacity & Testing Strategies to Reduce Recidivism

Applicant:                              St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin

Project Title:                          St. Croix Tribal Offender Reintegration Program

Funding Category:                US Indian Tribe Federally Recognized

Geographic Location:           Rural Northwestern Wisconsin WI-007

Outside Evaluator:                Julie Black-Elk Ph.D

Project Goals, Purposes and Deliverables:

The St. Croix Tribal Reintegration Program operates on the belief that Ojibwe culture is medicine and the foundation from which to build a new lifestyle that is free from negative influences and incarceration.  This program assists tribal community members who have been incarcerated in either jail or prison systems in developing a self-sufficient life in their tribal community after release. To achieve this goal, they work in collaboration with the Wisconsin DOC, regional service agencies, law enforcement agencies, and tribal departments.  The St. Croix Tribal Offender Reintegration Program is currently the only reentry program in service to the communities of the St. Croix Tribe.

Through this 2nd Chance Act Opportunity the St. Croix Tribal Offender Reintegration Program will achieve the goals of: expanding and defining their program to meet the needs of clients; reconfirming partnerships with local correctional and service agencies; enhancing program operations and continuing to offer three-phase reentry services to offenders; and engaging the services of an independent outside evaluator to review program successes.  This program uses the traditions and teachings of Native American Culture and Tribal values to address recidivism, and connects offenders to a community that supports their journey to wellness.

Priority Considerations:

The St. Croix Tribal Offender Reintegration Program meets the priority considerations:

(1A) Promote racial equity and removal of access barriers for a historically underserved community.  Narrative Page 1-2.15-16

(1B) As a culturally specific organization the program will be based on traditional culture and serve a specific Native American population.  Narrative Pages 4-5, 11-12, 18

Projected number of participants: 150 minimum over grant period

Baseline Recidivism Rate for St. Croix Tribal Community:  93% (2-year collection data)

Validated Risk Assessment Tool: St. Of Wisconsin DOC “COMPAS”