Saint paul island is located in the middle of the bering sea, 300 miles from the alaska mainland; 800 miles from anchorage, the closest urban center; and 300 miles north of the aleutian chain

The Aleut Community of St. Paul Island was awarded a $882,077 Project Grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Justice System Infrastructure Program for Indian Tribes (TJSIP). The grant will support collaboration between the Aleut Community, City of St. Paul Island, and Southcentral Foundation to develop and enhance programming for tribal members involved in the criminal justice system on St. Paul Island. This includes integrating risk and needs assessment tools, reducing substance abuse issues through culturally appropriate treatment, and providing alternatives to incarceration. The City of St. Paul Island will receive support to improve law enforcement services through equipment purchases and detention facility renovations including a crisis stabilization room. Assistance will also be provided for families affected by issues like historical trauma, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, and suicide ideation through cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based prevention programs. The five-year grant period runs from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2027.

IT is one of two inhabited islands in the pribilof islands. In addition to being a remote, rural community, the community must deal with a number of risk factors which contribute to social problems, alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide on the island. These include high rates of domestic violence, economic distress, depression and shrinking island population. The aleut community of ST. Paul island will collaborate with the city of ST. Paul island and the southcentral foundation to develop, implement, and enhance programming for tribal members incarcerated or diverted to tribal or local correctional facilities or under community supervision to reduce their risks for reoffending and support successful rehabilitation by integrating risk and needs tools in the decision making process, reducing the number of american indian/alaska native youth and adults with substance abuse issues in ST. Paul island through culturally appropriate treatment and supportive services. This will be accomplished through the development and utilization of risk and needs assessment tools that address behavioral health needs and provide alternatives to incarceration. This project will serve both juveniles and adults who enter into a diversionary agreement. The city of ST. Paul island will provide support for the development and implementation of programming that increases officer safety and improves the delivery of law enforcement services through the use of equipment such as tasers, body cameras, computers, and a renovated detention facility that includes a safe room for those in crisis who should not be jailed. Our collaboration with the south-central foundation will provide assistance for family members and those affected by alcohol abuse, substance abuse disorders, and suicide ideation because of historical trauma, through effective treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, education and vocational services, and through the support of culturally relevant and appropriate evidence-based prevention programs such as the 'healing of the canoe', that provides prevention, treatment and other programming that will reduce the risk for recidivism.