BISMARCK, N.D. – On Friday, Dec. 12, the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (ND DOCR) announced the nine recipients of the Breaking the Cycle Grant (formerly known as Correctional Facility Grant Program). Among those sharing the funds is the Lake Region Correctional Facility, a part of the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center on Walnut St. W.
According to the ND DOCR press release, the grant is a groundbreaking initiative designed to enhance programming and reentry services provided at regional, county, and tribal correctional facilities. This funding opportunity is made possible through an appropriation authorized by the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly with House Bill 1549.
A total of $1,500,000.00 will be awarded to the following agencies:
• Lake Region Correctional Facility
• Barnes County Correctional Center
• Burleigh Morton Detention Center
• Cass County Jail
• Heart of America Correctional and Treatment Center
• McKenzie County Correctional Facility
• Mountrail County Correctional Center
• Rolette County Law Enforcement Center
• Ward County Detention Center
The program focuses on intervention and service delivery within jails, recognizing that support during incarceration and reentry is vital to reducing recidivism and strengthening public safety.
“Our committee is really excited about the quality and diversity of these projects. These counties thoughtfully examined what gaps they could fill to help people successfully get back on their feet and strengthen public safety in their communities,” said Jonathan Holth, Commissioner of Recovery & Reentry and Chair of the Breaking the Cycle Grant Committee. “Breaking the Cycle is a partnership between the state, local correctional leaders, and the communities we all serve. We are looking forward to seeing the results of this program, and are grateful to the legislature for supporting correctional facilities across the state.”
Starr Klemetsrud, the director of Lake Region Law Enforcement Center in Devils Lake, confirmed via email that her correctional facility received $300,608 through the grant from ND DOCR for fiscal year 2026. “This funding will significantly strengthen our substance use disorder program, which our facility was the first in the state to establish in a jail setting, and expand some of the other programs at the correctional facility,” she said. “Some of the initiatives include purchasing an electronic medical records program, enhancing treatment with new technology and supplies, supplementing salaries for our treatment staff, and providing additional training for our correctional team, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement.”
The grant is a competitive process based upon agency and general eligibility requirements including submission of a complete application, contract and required certifications, and a goal-orientated project or plan showing progress, enrichment, or expansion of reentry programming and services.
More information on the grant can be found at the Grants/Funding section of North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s website at docr.nd.gov/grantsfunding.
