Amendments to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) pointed to a bigger role for tribal police, courts and social agencies. Many of these agencies needed - and continue to need - technical assistance, coordination and backup from federal sources - in the Justice Department.
FCNL’s 2010 Winter Indian Report featured a description of the injustices – especially in stopping violent crimes against Indian women — created by law enforcement jurisdictional boundaries and complexities. Advocates sought, and won, at least a partial remedy in amendments to the Violence Against Women Act. In February 2013, these amendments finally passed. Added to the changes made in with the passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act, these VAWA amendments expanded and strengthened the roles of tribal police and justice systems responding to domestic violence on tribal lands. Read about tribal “healing to wellness” courts and other expanding justice programs here.
Complications abound, of course, so the Department of Justice has been tasked with sorting out jurisdictional questions and offering or funding technical assistance to tribal courts and police. In addition the Department has undertaken research on the occurrence of violence against Native women, both on and off tribal lands, and has set up an Indian Country Sexual Assault Clearinghouse.
Most of the funding for these programs would be continued in the President’s proposal. While the funding for the Tribal Special Domestic Violence Jurisdiction would be reduced from $4 million to $2.5 million, the proposal also includes a 5 percent set-aside from the Crime Victims Fund (which was not included in the FY 2017 appropriation.) In addition, tribal law enforcement assistance, tribal youth programs, and tribal resource grants would continue to be supported through a 7 percent set-aside from the Office of Justice Programs.
Since these programs reside in the Justice Department, their funding will be considered by the Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice and Science. See the members here.