NDDOCR Unveils New Young Adult Prison Housing Unit Providing Mentorship, Counseling, and Healing

The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation partners with Restoring Promise to improve living and working conditions

Bismarck, ND – Today, the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (NDDOCR) announced the opening of a dedicated housing unit grounded in dignity for young adults with collaboration from Restoring Promise, an initiative of the MILPA Collective and the Vera Institute of Justice. The housing unit will focus on creating a more restorative environment for residents from ages 18 to 25 within the North Dakota State Penitentiary.

During the day, community members will hear from agency leadership and residents about a focus on creating environments that are safer and fairer. Over the past year, residents and corrections officers collaborated with the architectural firm Mass Design to redesign a housing unit and create a communal space. Today, family members will be able to see where their loved ones live and learn about their journey of healing.

"Providing a restorative environment for incarcerated individuals translates to healthy and productive neighbors and a safer North Dakota," said Dave Krabbenhoft, DOCR Director. “When we offer support and help connect residents to their families and loved ones, formally incarcerated people are more likely to thrive when they return home.”

Restoring Promise improves the living and working conditions in prisons by repurposing housing units for young adults (ages 18– 25) that focus on dignity, support, and fairness. DOCR’s Restoring Promise housing unit was designed in partnership with residents and DOCR team members, ensuring those most impacted could shape a supportive community. Young adults chart their own paths to success with guidance from frontline staff and older mentors with lived experience in the criminal justice system. Volunteers, corrections staff, and mentors provide classes ranging from problem-solving, financial literacy, job readiness skills, and conflict resolution, preparing young people for a successful transition to their home communities.

“North Dakota is on a journey to improve how it treats people who are incarcerated by uplifting accountability, evaluating policies, and championing human dignity,” said Restoring Promise associate director Clinique Chapman, who advises state leaders on prison reform.

“North Dakota is ushering in a new era in which incarcerated people are treated with respect, have access to resources, and live in restorative spaces,” said John Pineda, deputy director of MILPA.

Through the partnership, DOCR team members learn management skills and restorative justice practices that lead to decreases in violent incidents and improved job satisfaction. Restoring Promise has also provided DOCR support with data collection, executive consultation, staff training, and family engagement to expand the department’s ability to provide care for residents.