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| A population lost |
| By Sarah Etter, News Reporter |
| Published: 03/12/2007 |
Yearly, reports are released that detail the special challenges facing certain types of offenders. Women and minorities usually top the list of the annual offerings, with data and research compiled to create a snapshot of life behind bars. One group that has not received much attention as of late are Native American offenders, who face their own hurdles when it comes to incarceration, reentry and recidivism.“Alcohol and substance abuse treatment, specifically for methamphetamines, appears to be a major need for this population, as articulated by various tribal leaders and the National Congress of American Indians,” says Christopher Mumola, policy analyst for the Bureau of Justice Statistics corrections statistic program. “Meth and substance abuse treatment is of great importance to state and tribal detention facilities since many Native American offenders go back to the same communities and reservations often lack the funds to continue long term treatment.” According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Native American offenders make up approximately two percent of the federal inmate population. FBOP statistics also show that this population comprises ten percent of all violent offenses committed. In state corrections departments, they typically make up two percent of the population. On Native American reservations, the jails attempt to address offender issues important to this community. However, according to a scathing 2004 Inspector General report, Neither Safe nor Secure: An Assessment of Indian Detention Facilities the Bureau of Indian Affairs has failed to uphold standards within Native American corrections facilities due to a lack of organization and funding. The BIA did not return calls for comment. The report also said that “for many years, and in multiple forums, the BIA and the District of Justice have found these facilities to be understaffed, overcrowded and under-funded. It became abundantly clear that some facilities we visited were egregiously unsafe, unsanitary and a hazard to both inmates and staff alike.” According to Leon Little Moon, facility administrator for the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety at South Dakota's Pine Ridge Facility, many of the problems listed in the report still exist. “This isn't like a county jail or state facility,” he explains. “The people in this facility are all people who grew up in our community. It's just not the same as working at a state corrections facility. Alcoholism is a big issue here. Another problem we face is that programming money is not provided, so we rely on outside programs on the reservation. It is hard to get those people on board to help these inmates recover because they just see offenders as bad people.” While many state corrections facilities offer substance abuse services, Moon says administrators struggle to secure this counseling in Native American jails. As a result, he has watched many offenders recycle through the reservation facility. “I can see how the state facility operates and it looks really nice,” he adds. “But looking at our facilities and how we operate, it's just totally different. We are backlogged, we have trouble securing programming and we're facing overcrowding too.” The picture Moon paints is a difficult one to comprehend, especially in a corrections world that is focused on facility and accreditation standards. For the Native American community, however, it is hard to find a forum to voice these concerns. Many prisoner advocacy groups for this population have disbanded, leaving resources scarce for both administrators and these offenders. There is hope. The Department of Justice recently established a website that it hopes will serve as a resource for Native American corrections staff and officials. Tribal Justice and Safety in Indian County is intended to serve as a connection between this population and the U.S. government. States are also trying to address the needs of this population by adjusting programs and implementing religious ceremonies in its facilities as well as the Native American facilities that fall under their jurisdiction. “We're pushing for halfway houses to be established on reservations for this culturally specific population. Overall, Native American offenders make up about 14 percent of our population, and we've had a long effort at our prisons, both private and public, to address their needs,” says Montana Department of Corrections spokesman Bob Anez. He says that compared to other races, this population makes up a disproportionate number of offenders in his state as well as surrounding ones. “Trying to establish the cause of this overrepresentation will take some more research. It will require us to look into the whole social structure, employment, money, etc., and those opportunities rarely exist on reservations around the country. This is so much more complex than just looking at Native Americans as a ratio of the total offender population,” Anez explains. “There is currently a bill being proposed to study this issue in Montana.” South Dakota reports a similar problem. Although both states are delving into the issue, Anez says he believes the problem resides mainly in the northern states. “When we look at studies about a disparate number of blacks being incarcerated in the south and other areas, it is almost a mirror image of incarceration rates for Native Americans up north,” he says. “We've established sweat lodges at all of our facilities and encourage tribal leaders to come in and meet with native offenders. From religious and cultural standpoints, we are trying to do more for them in that regard. That's going well, and we just opened a sweat lodge for the women's facility,” Anez says. “We've also added an American Indian liaison to our staff. We want to cater to their interests and concerns.” Arizona has also made moves to accommodate the inmates. “These religious activities are a very important part of rehabilitation if they are taken seriously,” says Chaplain Mike Linderman, AZDOC's religious program director. “For those who are sincere, these ceremonies are crucial. Native American offenders make up about five percent of our inmate population and more than half of those inmates participate in the sweat lodge.” Arizona officials hope tribal leaders will volunteer to visit with offenders to counsel them and oversee their ceremonies. While DOCs have made changes to accommodate the religious needs of this population, many believe there is still much to do in the way of alcohol and substance abuse programming, particularly on reservation facilities. Moon says he sees positive movement with the DOJ's new website, but says the only way to really make a difference is to first overcome the challenges corrections itself has with managing Native American offenders. Related Resources: One Sky Center. American Indian/Alaska Native National Resource Center for substance abuse and mental health services. National Congress of American Indians Meth in Indian County Initiative |
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