Tribal Justice

The Center’s current work includes:

• Development of Tribal Specific Tools
  The Center is developing the country’s first tribal-specific risk-need-responsivity assessment tool. We draw upon existing research; previously validated instruments; emerging research on the importance of historical and cultural factors in assessing risk and need in American Indian and Alaska Native populations; and the expertise and on-the-ground experience of tribal justice practitioners and indigenous researchers across Indian Country.
• Tribal Access to Justice Innovation
  The Center developed the Tribal Access to Justice Innovation website, which seeks to help tribal justice practitioners learn about innovative and promising justice-related programs in Indian Country. Visit tribaljustice.org to learn what other tribes are doing to address crime, protect victims, and improve public health and safety in their communities.
• Initiative for Child Witness Materials
  The Center is currently creating a package of age-appropriate informational materials for Native child victims and witnesses. These materials, in the form of graphic novels, aim to support children during their involvement with tribal, state, and federal justice systems.

Contact us if your tribe is interested in using our tools!

Videos

The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reintegration Program provides intensive case management and reentry services to tribal members returning to the community from incarceration. The help it offers includes financial assistance for basic needs such as housing, clothing, and groceries, and offers long-term support through educational, vocational, and legal services. This video introduces viewers to the program through interviews with clients, staff and the numerous partners--like prison and court officials--that have allowed the program to help hundreds of clients make successful transitions from prison to home. The video was an official selection of the American Indian Film Festival in 2017.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians created the GREAT Program to intervene with gang-involved youth, create a safer school climate, and provide pro-social gang prevention activities to community youth. In addition to the in-class curriculum, the program provides camp opportunities for youth to participate in throughout the year. This video follows youth, teachers, officers, staff and elders through their summer camp experience, where they share stories on how the program has impacted their lives.