A new agency on the Wind River Reservation aims to fight of recidivism among Native Americans.
The Northern Arapaho Tribe began using over $620,000 in federal funds this year to create a tribal reentry program for previously incarcerated citizens.
It鈥檚 meant to help tribal members coming from correctional facilities and jails readjust to life on the reservation.
The agency also collaborates with other groups on the reservation, like and the , to coordinate culturally appropriate services for both Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribal members. That includes housing and substance abuse treatment.
鈥淚 do have lived experience,鈥� said Terri Smith, the agency administrator 鈥� for now, its only employee 鈥� and a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. 鈥淚've been to prison and I've been on probation. I'm in recovery. I feel like I get them on a level that others can鈥檛.鈥�
Smith said on an average day in her job, she pivots between data collection, case work and advocacy.
鈥淸I鈥檓] just helping them get to appointments. I help them communicate with their probation officer for them, kind of advocate for them,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ake sure they understand what's expected of them.鈥�
Though it鈥檚 still getting up and running, the program鈥檚 goal is to eventually reduce recidivism by at least 50 percent among participants.
Smith said , but that she hopes to apply for more funding before then to keep the agency operating.
States like Arizona and Utah have similar programs.
The portion of the Navajo Nation that lies within Utah has lowered its recidivism rate after establishing a reentry agency and court.
Wyoming also has its own tribal community reentry court, separate from the agency that Smith leads.
The court is made up of a federal judge, an assistant U.S. attorney, an assistant federal public defender, a U.S. probation officer and representatives from the Eastern Shoshone Recovery and White Buffalo Recovery centers.
The team visits communities across the reservation, bringing the court to local areas to work with paroled tribal citizens to ensure they don鈥檛 re-offend.
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