In North Dakota, change is in the air—and this time, it’s aimed at breaking cycles, not just building cells.
The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) is taking on one of our state’s biggest challenges: overcrowded prisons and the uphill battle people face when they return home. Alongside adding four temporary “mini-prisons” to ease immediate strain, the state is investing over $1.6 million into something we know works—a 25-bed reentry center in northwest North Dakota, likely in Minot or Williston.
This isn’t just another facility. It’s a lifeline. A place where people can get connected to housing, healthcare, employment, and recovery support the moment they walk out the gate.
Legislation With People in Mind
Earlier this year, Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed a package of bills aimed squarely at helping people succeed after incarceration:
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Diversion and deflection programs that give people a chance at treatment instead of a jail cell.
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Eliminating supervision fees that too often trap people in debt before they’ve even had a chance to rebuild.
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Funding for jails to strengthen reentry programming and make sure IDs, Medicaid, and other essentials are in place before release.
These aren’t small tweaks—they’re system shifts that make it possible for someone to start fresh without being set up to fail.
Collaboration is Key
We know that reentry doesn’t happen in isolation. DOCR, Health & Human Services, Job Service North Dakota, the Department of Transportation, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations are linking arms to make sure the basics are covered—housing, healthcare, employment readiness, recovery support, and even adjustments to child support obligations during those first critical months home.
At F5 Project, we see the difference this kind of coordination makes every single day. When someone has a safe place to sleep, a job to show up to, and support in their recovery, the odds of success skyrocket.
Why This Matters Now
North Dakota’s prison population has been climbing. Overcrowding is a serious issue. But throwing more beds at the problem without addressing the root causes will never break the cycle. These new investments—both in infrastructure and in people—signal a step toward a future where fewer lives are lost to incarceration, addiction, and hopelessness.
This is what second chances look like. It’s what thriving communities are built on. And it’s exactly the kind of momentum we need to keep pushing forward.
