2025 Minnesota Statutes

241.80 AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURAL PROGRAM.

Subdivision 1.Authority.

The commissioner of corrections shall develop a policy to provide the cultural programming services listed in subdivision 2 to American Indian incarcerated individuals of all juvenile and adult state correctional facilities and community-based correctional programs. The commissioner may, within the limits of available money, contract with appropriate American Indian private, nonprofit organizations to provide the cultural programming services.

Subd. 2.Cultural programming services.

The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, providing, within the limits of available money, spiritual and cultural programming services having the following purposes:

(1) the development of education and training needed for postincarceration self-sufficiency;

(2) the development of strengthened American Indian identity;

(3) improved understanding of American Indian culture, traditions, and spiritual practices for Department of Corrections staff;

(4) the development of partnerships with Tribal Nations to address the unique needs of American Indian incarcerated individuals and promote approaches to rehabilitation specific to this population;

(5) increased availability of American Indian spiritual leaders to teach American Indian incarcerated individuals about American Indian history and cultural and spiritual practices;

(6) the involvement of American Indian incarcerated individuals in those aspects of the correctional system that will aid in their rehabilitation; and

(7) the provision of services to American Indian incarcerated individuals that will facilitate their reentry into the community.

History:

1985 c 113 s 1; 2020 c 110 s 3; 2025 c 35 art 7 s 2