Tribal Healing to Wellness Court - Turtle Mountain Alternative Court

The purpose of the Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (42 U.S.C. 3797u et seq.) is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, state courts, local courts, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop and implement drug treatment courts that effectively integrate substance abuse treatment, mandatory drug testing, sanctions and incentives, and transitional services in a judicially supervised court setting with jurisdiction over nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders. The FY 2010 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program will provide grant funds to jurisdictions to implement or enhance a local drug court or to improve, enhance, expand, or financial support drug court services statewide.

The Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians will use the grant funds to enhance their Alternative Court Program. The Alternative Court program has worked with 151 clients who have had a drug or alcohol addiction. The program is currently operating with a part-time director who is also handling probation officer duties as well as program director responsibilities, leaving only 25 percent of the director/probation officer/program director time to focus on the clients. The grant will be used to fund an Alternative Court probation officer/case manger position and provide incentives for program participants. Additionally, the Tribe will link with the Victims of Crime Assistance program to mandate that all drug court clients complete the DUI Impact panel to help them understand the consequences of driving intoxicated.

CA/NCF