Tribal courts sentence thousands of tribal members to incarceration every year. On any given day, more than 2,000 tribal offenders are being held in Indian country jails, while many more are being held in state and federal facilities under contract with tribes. In the wake of a highly-publicized 2004 report highlighting serious concerns about conditions in tribal jails, many tribes have worked to improve conditions and develop jail-based programs to help offenders address substance abuse problems, mental illness, and other challenges. In addition, tribes are placing new emphasis on reentry, developing programs to help incarcerated offenders prepare for release and to help newly-released offenders make a successful transition back to life in the community.
