Implementation of a Healing to Wellness Court

The Department of Justice developed a comprehensive and coordinated approach for tribal governments to apply for funding to reduce and prevent crime and victimization. Through this process, the Department's existing tribal government-specific programs are included in, and available through, a single Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS). Through this solicitation, only one application was accepted from each federally recognized tribe to encourage comprehensive assessments of need and planning. Each tribe could apply for funding under up to nine purpose areas, which included funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (including BJA, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) and Office on Violence Against Women. The tribe had the flexibility to select the purpose areas whose funding addressed the needs of the tribe as outlined in its tribal and community profile. There were nine purpose areas in total, and purpose area 3 was dedicated to Justice Systems, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention.

The FY 2016 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP) provides funding and technical assistance to federally recognized tribal governments to plan, implement, or enhance tribal justice strategies that address crime issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. The purpose of the IASAP is to: prevent and reduce alcohol- and substance abuse-related crimes; identify, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who illegally transport, distribute, and abuse alcohol and controlled substances in Tribal communities; increase coordination with relevant non-Tribal agencies and organizations and among all levels of the Tribe; implement Tribal justice system interventions for substance abusing offenders, including drug courts or co-occurring drug and mental health courts, the provision of substance abuse and other treatment in correctional facilities, and the provision of treatment, aftercare, and other reentry supportive services to offenders reentering communities from correctional facilities; integrate Tribal, federal, state, and local services and culturally appropriate treatment for offenders and their families; increase the capacity to collect and share justice system data on drug- and alcohol-related offenses; and protect children from alcohol and drug use and/or production. The grant recipient will use the funds to implement an IASAP project.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Adult Healing to Wellness Court (H2W), will address the healing of drug and/or alcohol dependent offenders by following the "Ten Key Components" and implementing the best practices developed by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and approved by the BJA. The Tribes will begin this process by hiring two positions for three years, the H2W Court Coordinator and a dedicated H2W Court Community Supervision Officer. A Management Information System will be purchased to track Court Participant progress and testing. Drug-testing supplies must also be purchased to perform testing, as the Strategic Planning Team has noted that eligible participants often face difficulty finding employment in this economically depressed environment. Additional expenses will include office supplies, equipment, and service charges (drug-testing hotline) noted as integral to the efficiency and success of the H2W Court.

CA/NCF