TRIBAL COURTS GET DRUG COURT FUNDING

Three Nevada Tribes Received Federal Grants This Month To Establish Or
Plan Drug Courts For Non-Violent Offenders With Drug Problems.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe received a $481,227 grant for drug court
implementation; the Elko Band Council and Te-Moak Tribe of Western
Shoshone received almost $30,000 each to plan future drug courts. "This
will help us set forth programs designed to prevent the use of drugs but
take an additional, unique approach," said Pyramid Lake's tribal
chairman Allan Mandel.

Jon Pishion, the tribe's contracts and grants administrator, said the
three-year funding would help establish a court that permit non-violent
offenders to go through a one-year program that provides addiction
treatment, help from a social worker, and monitors the participant's
progress. It would also involve a cultural component.

"We don't have that right now, and this would be a more intensive
program," Pishion said.

Gonnie Mendez, of the Elko Band Council, said their plans call for a
design that will help participants deal with their addictions instead of
punishing them. "We want to have a program that will help our people,"
Mendez said. "We want a drug abuse program that will give them the
opportunity to be helped in different ways."

Like the Pyramid Lake Tribe, Elko's program would plan a way to
integrate American Indian culture to build pride for participants.

"Culture (will be) a very integral part of our drug court," Mandel said.
"It's about taking pride in who you are and having a strong sense of
culture, building self-esteem from that culture and knowing you're part
of a viable community."

The Pyramid Lake tribe plans to implement its drug court this fall and
the Elko band will work on plans to develop its court in the next few
years.