The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is launching new efforts to prevent felons from returning to prison and teenagers from ever entering the system.
Nationally, two-thirds of all people released from prison are arrested within three years of release, according to Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.
To help tackle this problem on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation, tribal officials are looking to introduce more support for those returning to their community from prison, said Peter Ortego, general council for the Ute Mountain Utes.
Tribal leaders, including chairman Manuel Heart, have met with government officials from different agencies to help examine the needs and existing services.
During the preliminary meeting, the group discussed how to provide more substance abuse treatment, employment and housing for those coming home from prison.
The tribe is going to reach out to the Bureau of Justice Assistance to get started with the program, and officials plan to meet again in January.
“Exactly what the re-entry program will look like is something we need to work with the tribe on,” Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh said.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs also is doing a pilot program to help Ute Mountain Utes who have committed tribal offenses reintegrate into the community, Walsh said.
Ute Mountain Ute officials also are in the process of launching a juvenile diversion program.
