CHAPTER 38A —INDIAN TRIBAL JUSTICE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE
SUBCHAPTER I—TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
SUBCHAPTER II—INDIAN TRIBAL COURTS
§3651. Findings
The Congress finds and declares that—
(1) there is a government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes;
(2) Indian tribes are sovereign entities and are responsible for exercising governmental authority over Indian lands;
(3) the rate of violent crime committed in Indian country is approximately twice the rate of violent crime committed in the United States as a whole;
(4) in any community, a high rate of violent crime is a major obstacle to investment, job creation and economic growth;
(5) tribal justice systems are an essential part of tribal governments and serve as important forums for ensuring the health and safety and the political integrity of tribal governments;
(6) Congress and the Federal courts have repeatedly recognized tribal justice systems as the most appropriate forums for the adjudication of disputes affecting personal and property rights on Native lands;
(7) enhancing tribal court systems and improving access to those systems serves the dual Federal goals of tribal political self-determination and economic self-sufficiency;
(8) there is both inadequate funding and an inadequate coordinating mechanism to meet the technical and legal assistance needs of tribal justice systems and this lack of adequate technical and legal assistance funding impairs their operation;
(9) tribal court membership organizations have served a critical role in providing training and technical assistance for development and enhancement of tribal justice systems;
(10) Indian legal services programs, as funded partially through the Legal Services Corporation, have an established record of providing cost effective legal assistance to Indian people in tribal court forums, and also contribute significantly to the development of tribal courts and tribal jurisprudence; and
(11) the provision of adequate technical assistance to tribal courts and legal assistance to both individuals and tribal courts is an essential element in the development of strong tribal court systems.
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Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Availability of Funds for Courts or Law Enforcement Officers of Certain Tribes or Villages
§3652. Purposes
The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
(1) to carry out the responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes and members of Indian tribes by ensuring access to quality technical and legal assistance.
(2) To strengthen and improve the capacity of tribal court systems that address civil and criminal causes of action under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes.
(3) To strengthen tribal governments and the economies of Indian tribes through the enhancement and, where appropriate, development of tribal court systems for the administration of justice in Indian country by providing technical and legal assistance services.
(4) To encourage collaborative efforts between national or regional membership organizations and associations whose membership consists of judicial system personnel within tribal justice systems; non-profit entities which provide legal assistance services for Indian tribes, members of Indian tribes, and/or tribal justice systems.
(5) To assist in the development of tribal judicial systems by supplementing prior congressional efforts such as the Indian Tribal Justice Act [
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning
The Indian Tribal Justice Act, referred to in par. (5), is
§3653. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter:
(1) Attorney General
The term "Attorney General" means the Attorney General of the United States.
(2) Director
The term "Director" means the Director of the Office of Tribal Justice.
(3) Indian lands
The term "Indian lands" shall include lands within the definition of "Indian country", as defined in
(4) Indian tribe
The term "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community which administers justice or plans to administer justice under its inherent authority or the authority of the United States and which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indian tribes because of their status as Indians.
(5) Judicial personnel
The term "judicial personnel" means any judge, magistrate, court counselor, court clerk, court administrator, bailiff, probation officer, officer of the court, dispute resolution facilitator, or other official, employee, or volunteer within the tribal judicial system.
(6) Non-profit entities
The term "non-profit entity" or "non-profit entities" has the meaning given that term in
(7) Office of Tribal Justice
The term "Office of Tribal Justice" means the Office of Tribal Justice in the United States Department of Justice.
(8) Tribal justice system
The term "tribal court", "tribal court system", or "tribal justice system" means the entire judicial branch, and employees thereof, of an Indian tribe, including, but not limited to, traditional methods and fora for dispute resolution, trial courts, appellate courts, including inter-tribal appellate courts, alternative dispute resolution systems, and circuit rider systems, established by inherent tribunal authority whether or not they constitute a court of record.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Pars. (2) to (8).
SUBCHAPTER I—TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
§3661. Tribal justice training and technical assistance grants
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, shall award grants to national or regional membership organizations and associations whose membership consists of judicial system personnel within tribal justice systems which submit an application to the Attorney General in such form and manner as the Attorney General may prescribe to provide training and technical assistance for the development, enrichment, enhancement of tribal justice systems, or other purposes consistent with this chapter.
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§3662. Tribal civil legal assistance grants
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, shall award grants to non-profit entities, as defined under
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—
§3663. Tribal criminal assistance grants
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Office of Tribal Justice, shall award grants to non-profit entities, as defined by
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—
§3664. No offset
No Federal agency shall offset funds made available pursuant to this chapter for Indian tribal court membership organizations or Indian legal services organizations against other funds otherwise available for use in connection with technical or legal assistance to tribal justice systems or members of Indian tribes.
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§3665. Tribal authority
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to—
(1) encroach upon or diminish in any way the inherent sovereign authority of each tribal government to determine the role of the tribal justice system within the tribal government or to enact and enforce tribal laws;
(2) diminish in any way the authority of tribal governments to appoint personnel;
(3) impair the rights of each tribal government to determine the nature of its own legal system or the appointment of authority within the tribal government;
(4) alter in any way any tribal traditional dispute resolution fora;
(5) imply that any tribal justice system is an instrumentality of the United States; or
(6) diminish the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribal governments and tribal justice systems of such governments.
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§3665a. Office of Tribal Justice
(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after July 29, 2010, the Attorney General shall establish the Office of Tribal Justice as a component of the Department.
(b) Personnel and funding
The Attorney General shall provide to the Office of Tribal Justice such personnel and funds as are necessary to establish the Office of Tribal Justice as a component of the Department under subsection (a).
(c) Duties
The Office of Tribal Justice shall—
(1) serve as the program and legal policy advisor to the Attorney General with respect to the treaty and trust relationship between the United States and Indian tribes;
(2) serve as the point of contact for federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations with respect to questions and comments regarding policies and programs of the Department and issues relating to public safety and justice in Indian country; and
(3) coordinate with other bureaus, agencies, offices, and divisions within the Department of Justice to ensure that each component has an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely consultation with tribal leaders in the development of regulatory policies and other actions that affect—
(A) the trust responsibility of the United States to Indian tribes;
(B) any tribal treaty provision;
(C) the status of Indian tribes as sovereign governments; or
(D) any other tribal interest.
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Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 106 of
§3666. Authorization of appropriations
For purposes of carrying out the activities under this subchapter, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—
SUBCHAPTER II—INDIAN TRIBAL COURTS
§3681. Grants
(a) In general
The Attorney General may award grants and provide technical assistance to Indian tribes to enable such tribes to carry out programs to support—
(1) the development, enhancement, and continuing operation of tribal justice systems; and
(2) the development and implementation of—
(A) tribal codes and sentencing guidelines;
(B) inter-tribal courts and appellate systems;
(C) tribal probation services, diversion programs, and alternative sentencing provisions;
(D) tribal juvenile services and multi-disciplinary protocols for child physical and sexual abuse; and
(E) traditional tribal judicial practices, traditional tribal justice systems, and traditional methods of dispute resolution.
(b) Consultation
In carrying out this section, the Attorney General may consult with the Office of Tribal Justice and any other appropriate tribal or Federal officials.
(c) Regulations
The Attorney General may promulgate such regulations and guidelines as may be necessary to carry out this subchapter.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
For purposes of carrying out the activities under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2015.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (d).
§3682. Assistant probation officers
To the maximum extent practicable, the chief judge or chief probation or pretrial services officer of each judicial district, in coordination with the Office of Tribal Justice and the Office of Justice Services, shall—
(1) appoint individuals residing in Indian country to serve as probation or pretrial services officers or assistants for purposes of monitoring and providing services to Federal prisoners residing in Indian country; and
(2) provide substance abuse, mental health, and other related treatment services to offenders residing on Indian land.
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