Chehalis Tribe and Quinault Indian Nation Receive Department of Justice Grant Funding for Youth Programs

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The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation and the Quinault Indian Nation were among eight Western Washington Indian Tribes awarded grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice for improvements to criminal justice systems and youth development programs.

The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation received $508,245 for tribal youth programs and the Quinault Indian Nation received $600,000 for a juvenile healing and wellness court program.

In its grant application for the wellness courts, the Quinault Indian Nation said it “has been working to build a stronger restorative justice model. Part of this model serves to help nonviolent offenders and their families work through substance abuse issues through a variety of social services such as chemical dependency, behavioral health, and family services. ... Establishing these courts will promote the restorative justice model and be better suited to reduced recidivism, lessen the burden on community policing, reduce jail capacity, and build stronger communities.”



The two awards make up part of over $8.5 million awarded to Western Washington Indian Tribes for the 2021 fiscal year. 

Each award was targeted for specific needs identified by each community, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.

“It is an impressive list of projects and goals that each of these tribes outlined in their grant applications,” said Brown. “From developing programs to connect tribal youth with their culture and heritage, to upgrading facilities for tribal courts and treatment facilities, these projects strengthen our communities.”