Subdivision 1. Authority. The commissioner of corrections shall develop a policy to provide the counseling services listed in subdivision 2 to American Indian inmates of all juvenile and adult state correctional facilities and community-based correctional programs. The commissioner may, within the limits of available money, contract with appropriate American Indian private, nonprofit organizations to provide these counseling services.

Subd. 2. Counseling services. The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, providing, within the limits of available money, spiritual and cultural counseling services having the following purposes:

(1) the teaching of good work habits and the development of motivation through work;

(2) the development of cultural pride to improve American Indian self-image;

(3) the development of an understanding of and an adjustment to the cultural differences between American Indians and other ethnic groups;

(4) the development of attitudes of mutual trust, respect, and understanding among American Indian family members;

(5) the fostering of increased availability of medicine men and American Indian spiritual leaders to teach American Indian inmates about American Indian history, cultural sensitivity, and religion;

(6) the involvement of American Indian inmates in those aspects of the correctional system that will aid in their rehabilitation; and

(7) the provision of services to American Indian inmates that will facilitate their reentry into the community.

History: 1985 c 113 s 1