NCJ Number
242413
Date Published
2012
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Because Indian tribal cultural practices and ceremonies teach values of respect, responsibility, health, and wellness, they can be especially important for incarcerated youth and those who are preparing to reenter tribal communities after being in a juvenile detention center (JDC).
Abstract
Since 2006, the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (NMCYFD) has funded cultural services to incarcerated American Indian youth in collaboration with tribal and community liaisons, program managers, mentors, and juvenile corrections officers. The program enables incarcerated Indian youth to view and address their trauma and behavioral issues through culturally based methods, values, and philosophies that reflect tribal and family traditions. Program staff reports that the Indian youth who participate in these culturally based treatment programs have fewer problem behaviors than incarcerated Indian youth who do not participate in these programs. For those communities that are considering integrating Indian cultural ceremonies and practices into a JDC program, this paper provides planning instructions in the areas of staff, materials, time, and space. Examples are provided of specific cultural practices that might be included in a JDC program, along with each practice's purpose, the resources needed for its implementation, and sources for additional information on the cultural practice.