The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $8.5 million to Western Washington Tribes for improvements to their criminal justice systems and youth development programs, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
The awards, to eight different tribes, are targeted for specific needs identified by each tribal community.
This announcement includes $1.5 million allocated for the Quinault Indian Nation and over $500,000 for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and Squaxin Island Tribe.
“It is an impressive list of projects and goals that each of these tribes outlined in their grant applications,” said U.S. Attorney Brown. “From developing programs to connect tribal youth with their culture and heritage, to upgrading facilities for tribal courts and treatment facilities, these projects strengthen our communities.”
Four tribes are receiving grants to enhance services to teens:
Three tribes are receiving grants to improve the physical spaces involved in tribal justice and wellness programs:
Three tribes received grants to enhance their court systems and criminal justice related programs:
In its grant application for the wellness courts the Quinault Indian Nation noted that it “has been working to build a stronger restorative justice model. Part of this model serves to help nonviolent offenders and their families work through substance abuse issues through a variety of social services such as Chemical Dependency, behavioral health, and family services”
They add “Establishing these courts will promote the restorative justice model and be better suited to reduced recidivism, lesson the burden on community policing, reduce jail capacity, and build stronger communities.”