The red lake band of chippewa indians is a federally recognized tribe located in red lake, minnesota, with 17,153 enrolled members

The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians $885,626 on October 1, 2025, under the Tribal Justice Assistance program (CFDA 16.596) to operate the Red Lake Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program through September 30, 2030.

The Red Lake LEAD Program diverts low-level offenders and overdose victims from the justice system by receiving referrals from the Red Lake Public Safety Department and facilitating access to recovery services and substance use disorder treatment. The program targets Red Lake adults with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder, particularly those involved in the criminal justice system. The Red Lake Tribal Council declared a public health emergency in 2017 in response to large-scale drug trafficking and widespread addiction to illegal drugs and prescription opiates among tribal members.

Performance occurs on the Red Lake Reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota, located largely in Beltrami County. The Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized tribe with 17,153 enrolled members headquartered in Puposky, Minnesota, is the sole recipient. The tribe operates its own justice system, police force, and public services with self-governance and management authority.

The Tribal Justice Assistance program provides funding to strengthen tribal justice system capacity and prevent crime through development and implementation of public safety improvements in tribal communities.

The project serves red lake adults who struggle with substance use disorders, including opioid use disordersespecially those involved in the justice system. The service area is the red lake reservation, which is located largely in beltrami county, minnesota. The red lake tribal council issued a public health emergency in 2017 due to large-scale drug trafficking and addiction of many tribal members to dangerous illegal drugs and powerful prescription opiate drugs(resolution no. 115-17). The red lake band of chippewa indians is unique in its self-governance and management of its justice system, police force, and other public services, and this public health emergency was declared with the understanding that addressing the opioid crisis on the reservation would be the primary responsibility of tribal leaders. With this funding, the red lake lead program will address drug-related crime using a diversion approach, effectively reducing drug-related crime by taking individuals with substance use disorderincluding opioid use disorderout of the justice system and facilitating their chosen path to recovery. Lead receives referrals from the red lake public safety department to assist low-level offenders or overdose victims in accessing recovery services and assistance