This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 1627, seeks to amend Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 241.80, to revise and enhance American Indian cultural programming services for incarcerated individuals in both state correctional facilities and community-based correctional programs.

Key Provisions:

1. Expanded Scope: Requires the Minnesota Commissioner of Corrections to develop a policy ensuring the availability of American Indian cultural programming services for juvenile and adult incarcerated individuals, rather than just inmates.
2. Partnerships: Allows the commissioner to contract with American Indian private nonprofit organizations to deliver these services, depending on available funding.
3. Cultural Programming Goals:
   • Teaching work habits, education, and training for self-sufficiency after release.
   • Strengthening American Indian identity and cultural pride.
   • Enhancing understanding of cultural differences between American Indians and other groups.
   • Training Department of Corrections staff on American Indian culture, traditions, and spiritual practices.
   • Fostering trust and respect among American Indian families and establishing partnerships with Tribal Nations to address their specific needs during rehabilitation.
   • Increasing access to medicine men and American Indian spiritual leaders, who will educate incarcerated individuals about history, cultural sensitivity, and spiritual practices.
   • Encouraging American Indian incarcerated individuals’ active involvement in rehabilitation efforts.
   • Facilitating reentry services to support American Indians after release.

Impact of the Bill:

• This bill modernizes and expands correctional policies to foster cultural understanding, rehabilitation, and reintegration for American Indian incarcerated individuals.
• It acknowledges the unique needs of American Indians within the correctional system and seeks to implement approaches specific to their rehabilitation.