Reentry Program

Reentry programs and reentry courts are designed to help returning citizens successfully "reenter" society following their incarceration, thereby reducing recidivism, improving public safety, and saving money.

A primary focus of our reentry efforts is to remove or reduce barriers to successful reentry, so that motivated individuals - who have served their time and paid their debt to society - are able to compete for a job, attain stable housing, support their children and their families, and contribute to their communities. 
 

Local Reentry Program

On Tuesday July 7, 2015, United States Attorney Christopher C. Myers, United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Multijurisdictional Reentry Services Team at a ceremony at Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council Chambers in Fort Yates, ND.

The historic agreement was the first time this many federal, state, and tribal agencies have worked together to address a nationwide problem that is amplified in Indian country. The agreement is unique because it covers Standing Rock Reservation, which encompasses both South Dakota and North Dakota, and has jurisdictional issues because of its location. The Multijurisdictional Reentry Services Team recognized that this remote area of reservation typically does not allow people returning home to have access to services and resources found in larger urban areas. The team shared a common interest and goal towards the successful reentry of people returning home to the reservation after their incarceration.

The agreement was the result of a lengthy process that required the collaboration of many federal, state, and tribal reentry group members contributing significant time and expertise in formulating this groundbreaking agreement.  The result was a sovereign tribal government coming together with authorities from two different states and two different federal districts and historically agreeing to partner together in aiding the Standing Rock Tribe to formulate a reentry program that will benefit the community, increase the safety of tribal members, and assist tribal members returning from prison in choosing a path that will help lead them away from a life of crime.

The MOU, which is part of the District of North Dakota’s efforts on focusing on successful reentry of returning members of society, was signed by the South Dakota U.S. Attorney’s Office, North Dakota U.S. Attorney’s Office, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services Standing Rock Agency, South Dakota Department of Corrections, North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, South Dakota Unified Judicial System, North Dakota U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, South Dakota U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, South Dakota Department of Tribal Relations, and the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission.

Multijurisdictional Reentry Services Team Members July 13, 2015

As a result of this historic agreement, the United States Attorneys’ Office, District  of North Dakota, is teaming up with the District of South Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and several other federal and state partners in introducing the first step of the tribe’s new reentry program, which begins with the assigning of mentors – members of the tribe that have served time and through cultural and religious based interaction, have reacclimated to the community – to guide and supervise members that are newly released to become full participating and contributing members of the community.

On April 22, 2016, the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the Districts of North and South Dakota commemorated the Department of Justice’s 2016 recognition of Reentry Week, a designation meant to focus on programs, resources, and efforts nationwide to address the problem of ex-convicts’ face upon returning to their communities.  As part of an effort to address hurdles faced by this returning population the Districts of North and South Dakota have teamed up with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, as well as, the States of North and South Dakota, to include members of each State’s Department of Corrections and their Parole and Probation Departments, State Tribal Liaison Office’s and Federal Parole and Probation to institute a new Reentry Program on the reservation.

As a first step in instituting this new Reentry Program the tribe recognized the first two volunteer mentors, Alan Flying By and Emily Yellow Earrings.  Both Alan and Emily are tribal members that have been to prison and have successfully reintegrated back into their communities.  Allan was provided his first two male mentees and Emily was provided her first two female mentees.  Both mentor and mentee responsibilities were outlined during this ceremony and mentees were challenged to overcome their urges to return to the conduct that led them to the legal issues that have faced.

This ceremony recognized that this is but a small first step in the direction the program intends to navigate.  It was further recognized that the mentorship part of the program must be followed by positive steps forward in locating or creating drug and alcohol treatment programs, in addition to a solid employment placement program.

Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault, Jr., addresses the crowd during the mentorship assignment.

AUSA Troy Morley, District of South Dakota, introduces Allan Flying By to his new mentees.

Both Allan Flying By and Emily Yellow Earrings address the crowd and welcome their mentees into the program.

Tribal Councilman, and Chair of the Tribal Judicial Committee, Joe Dunn addresses the crowd and the new mentors and their new mentees.

Federal Interagency Reentry Council (FIRC)

The FIRC, established by the Attorney General in January 2011, comprises 20 federal agencies representing a significant executive branch commitment to coordinating reentry efforts and advancing effective reentry policies. It is premised on the recognition that many federal agencies have a major stake in prisoner reentry.  Learn more
 

Reentry Issues

Public Safety
Reentry improves public safety.  Approximately two million adults are incarcerated in state prisons and local jails. Nationally, two out of every three people released from state prisons are rearrested for a new offense and about half are reincarcerated within three years. Reducing recidivism is critical for increasing long-term public safety and lowering corrections costs.

Employment
Individuals who have been incarcerated can expect their future earnings to be reduced by about 40 percent after they return to their communities.   Reentry efforts seek to reduce barriers to employment so that people with past criminal involvement – after they have been held accountable and paid their dues – can compete for work opportunities.

Health
There is often a lack of continuity in care from inside the prison to the community.  Reentry efforts can help ensure that the Affordable Care Act and other reforms will significantly increase access to appropriate physical and behavioral health interventions after release from incarceration. Substance abuse can be a significant impediment to successful reentry and a major health concern. Addressing the root causes of substance abuse leads to improved public safety.

Education
Education is a core resource for release preparation, and is an evidence-based tool for reducing recidivism among adults and juveniles. Participation in education programming was associated with a 16 percent reduction in recidivism in one study. Education is also a critical building block for increasing employment opportunities.

Housing
Stable housing with appropriate supportive services is a key factor in preventing homelessness and reducing recidivism.  The goal is to reduce barriers to public and subsidized housing, and advance promising models that improve outcomes for people who repeatedly use corrections and homeless services.
 

Additional Resources

Please visit the following resources for more information about reentry:

• Reentry MythBusters
• National Reentry Resource Center
• Federal Interagency Reentry Council