SUBCHAPTER I—GENERALLY
§1301. Definitions
For purposes of this subchapter, the term—
(1) "Indian tribe" means any tribe, band, or other group of Indians subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and recognized as possessing powers of self-government;
(2) "powers of self-government" means and includes all governmental powers possessed by an Indian tribe, executive, legislative, and judicial, and all offices, bodies, and tribunals by and through which they are executed, including courts of Indian offenses; and means the inherent power of Indian tribes, hereby recognized and affirmed, to exercise criminal jurisdiction over all Indians;
(3) "Indian court" means any Indian tribal court or court of Indian offense; and
(4) "Indian" means any person who would be subject to the jurisdiction of the United States as an Indian under
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1990—Par. (2).
Par. (4).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
Title II of
Time Limitation on Criminal Misdemeanor Jurisdiction of Tribal Courts Over Non-Member Indians
§1302. Constitutional rights
(a) In general
No Indian tribe in exercising powers of self-government shall—
(1) make or enforce any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition for a redress of grievances;
(2) violate the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizures, nor issue warrants, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or thing to be seized;
(3) subject any person for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy;
(4) compel any person in any criminal case to be a witness against himself;
(5) take any private property for a public use without just compensation;
(6) deny to any person in a criminal proceeding the right to a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and at his own expense to have the assistance of counsel for his defense (except as provided in subsection (b));
(7)(A) require excessive bail, impose excessive fines, or inflict cruel and unusual punishments;
(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), impose for conviction of any 1 offense any penalty or punishment greater than imprisonment for a term of 1 year or a fine of $5,000, or both;
(C) subject to subsection (b), impose for conviction of any 1 offense any penalty or punishment greater than imprisonment for a term of 3 years or a fine of $15,000, or both; or
(D) impose on a person in a criminal proceeding a total penalty or punishment greater than imprisonment for a term of 9 years;
(8) deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process of law;
(9) pass any bill of attainder or ex post facto law; or
(10) deny to any person accused of an offense punishable by imprisonment the right, upon request, to a trial by jury of not less than six persons.
(b) Offenses subject to greater than 1-year imprisonment or a fine greater than $5,000
A tribal court may subject a defendant to a term of imprisonment greater than 1 year but not to exceed 3 years for any 1 offense, or a fine greater than $5,000 but not to exceed $15,000, or both, if the defendant is a person accused of a criminal offense who—
(1) has been previously convicted of the same or a comparable offense by any jurisdiction in the United States; or
(2) is being prosecuted for an offense comparable to an offense that would be punishable by more than 1 year of imprisonment if prosecuted by the United States or any of the States.
(c) Rights of defendants
In a criminal proceeding in which an Indian tribe, in exercising powers of self-government, imposes a total term of imprisonment of more than 1 year on a defendant, the Indian tribe shall—
(1) provide to the defendant the right to effective assistance of counsel at least equal to that guaranteed by the United States Constitution; and
(2) at the expense of the tribal government, provide an indigent defendant the assistance of a defense attorney licensed to practice law by any jurisdiction in the United States that applies appropriate professional licensing standards and effectively ensures the competence and professional responsibility of its licensed attorneys;
(3) require that the judge presiding over the criminal proceeding—
(A) has sufficient legal training to preside over criminal proceedings; and
(B) is licensed to practice law by any jurisdiction in the United States;
(4) prior to charging the defendant, make publicly available the criminal laws (including regulations and interpretative documents), rules of evidence, and rules of criminal procedure (including rules governing the recusal of judges in appropriate circumstances) of the tribal government; and
(5) maintain a record of the criminal proceeding, including an audio or other recording of the trial proceeding.
(d) Sentences
In the case of a defendant sentenced in accordance with subsections (b) and (c), a tribal court may require the defendant—
(1) to serve the sentence—
(A) in a tribal correctional center that has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for long-term incarceration, in accordance with guidelines to be developed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (in consultation with Indian tribes) not later than 180 days after July 29, 2010;
(B) in the nearest appropriate Federal facility, at the expense of the United States pursuant to the Bureau of Prisons tribal prisoner pilot program described in section 304(c) 1 of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010;
(C) in a State or local government-approved detention or correctional center pursuant to an agreement between the Indian tribe and the State or local government; or
(D) in an alternative rehabilitation center of an Indian tribe; or
(2) to serve another alternative form of punishment, as determined by the tribal court judge pursuant to tribal law.
(e) Definition of offense
In this section, the term "offense" means a violation of a criminal law.
(f) Effect of section
Nothing in this section affects the obligation of the United States, or any State government that has been delegated authority by the United States, to investigate and prosecute any criminal violation in Indian country.
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Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 304(c) of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B), probably means section 234(c) of title II of
Amendments
2010—
Subsec. (a)(6).
Subsec. (a)(7).
Subsecs. (b) to (f).
1986—Par. (7).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Pilot Program
Purpose of 1986 Amendment
1 See References in Text note below.
§1302a. Bureau of Prisons tribal prisoner program
(1) In general
Not later than 120 days after March 15, 2022, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall establish a program under which the Bureau of Prisons shall accept offenders convicted in tribal court pursuant to
(2) Conditions
(A) In general
As a condition of participation in the program described in paragraph (1), the tribal court shall submit to the Attorney General a request for confinement of the offender, for approval by the Attorney General (or a designee) by not later than 30 days after the date of submission.
(B) Limitations
Requests for confinement shall be limited to offenders convicted of a violent crime (comparable to the violent crimes described in
(C) Custody conditions
The imprisonment by the Bureau of Prisons shall be subject to the conditions described in
(D) Cap
The Bureau of Prisons shall confine not more than 100 tribal offenders at any time.
(3) Rescinding requests
(A) In general
The applicable tribal government shall retain the authority to rescind the request for confinement of a tribal offender by the Bureau of Prisons under this paragraph at any time during the sentence of the offender.
(B) Return to tribal custody
On rescission of a request under subparagraph (A), a tribal offender shall be returned to tribal custody.
(4) Reassessment
If tribal court demand for participation in this program exceeds 100 tribal offenders, a representative of the Bureau of Prisons shall notify Congress.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Section was formerly set out as a note under
Section was enacted as part of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, and not as part of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 which comprises this subchapter.
Amendments
2022—
Par. (1).
Par. (2)(B).
Pars. (5), (6).
"(5)
"(6)
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions
For definition of "tribal government" as used in this section, see section 203(a) of
§1303. Habeas corpus
The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall be available to any person, in a court of the United States, to test the legality of his detention by order of an Indian tribe.
(
§1304. Tribal jurisdiction over covered crimes
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Assault of Tribal justice personnel
The term "assault of Tribal justice personnel" means any violation of the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs that involves the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against an individual authorized to act for, or on behalf of, that Indian tribe or serving that Indian tribe during, or because of, the performance or duties of that individual in—
(A) preventing, detecting, investigating, making arrests relating to, making apprehensions for, or prosecuting a covered crime;
(B) adjudicating, participating in the adjudication of, or supporting the adjudication of a covered crime;
(C) detaining, providing supervision for, or providing services for persons charged with a covered crime; or
(D) incarcerating, supervising, providing treatment for, providing rehabilitation services for, or providing reentry services for persons convicted of a covered crime.
(2) Child
The term "child" means a person who has not attained the lesser of—
(A) the age of 18; and
(B) except in the case of sexual abuse, the age specified by the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs.
(3) Child violence
The term "child violence" means the use, threatened use, or attempted use of violence against a child proscribed by the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs.
(4) Coercion; commercial sex act
The terms "coercion" and "commercial sex act" have the meanings given the terms in
(5) Covered crime
The term "covered crime" means—
(A) assault of Tribal justice personnel;
(B) child violence;
(C) dating violence;
(D) domestic violence;
(E) obstruction of justice;
(F) sexual violence;
(G) sex trafficking;
(H) stalking; and
(I) a violation of a protection order.
(6) Dating violence
The term "dating violence" means any violation of the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs that is committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim, as determined by the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
(7) Domestic violence
The term "domestic violence" means any violation of the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs that is committed by—
(A) a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;
(B) a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;
(C) a person who is cohabitating with or who has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner; or
(D) a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic- or family-violence laws of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs.
(8) Indian country
The term "Indian country" has the meaning given the term in
(9) Obstruction of justice
The term "obstruction of justice" means any violation of the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs that involves interfering with the administration or due process of the laws of the Indian tribe, including any Tribal criminal proceeding or investigation of a crime.
(10) Participating tribe
The term "participating tribe" means an Indian tribe that elects to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over the Indian country of that Indian tribe.
(11) Protection order
The term "protection order"—
(A) means any injunction, restraining order, or other order issued by a civil or criminal court for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, sexual violence against, contact or communication with, or physical proximity to, another person; and
(B) includes any temporary or final order issued by a civil or criminal court, whether obtained by filing an independent action or as a pendent lite order in another proceeding, if the civil or criminal order was issued in response to a complaint, petition, or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection.
(12) Sex trafficking
The term "sex trafficking" means conduct within the meaning of
(13) Sexual violence
The term "sexual violence" means any nonconsensual sexual act or contact proscribed by the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs, including in any case in which the victim lacks the capacity to consent to the act.
(14) Special Tribal criminal jurisdiction
The term "special Tribal criminal jurisdiction" means the criminal jurisdiction that a participating tribe may exercise under this section but could not otherwise exercise.
(15) Spouse or intimate partner
The term "spouse or intimate partner" has the meaning given the term in
(16) Stalking
The term "stalking" means engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person proscribed by the criminal law of the Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over the Indian country where the violation occurs that would cause a reasonable person—
(A) to fear for the person's safety or the safety of others; or
(B) to suffer substantial emotional distress.
(17) Violation of a protection order
The term "violation of a protection order" means an act that—
(A) occurs in the Indian country of a participating tribe; and
(B) violates a provision of a protection order that—
(i) prohibits or provides protection against violent or threatening acts or harassment against, sexual violence against, contact or communication with, or physical proximity to, another person;
(ii) was issued against the defendant;
(iii) is enforceable by the participating tribe; and
(iv) is consistent with
(b) Nature of the criminal jurisdiction
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in addition to all powers of self-government recognized and affirmed by
(2) Concurrent jurisdiction
The exercise of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction by a participating tribe shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of the United States, of a State, or of both.
(3) Applicability
Nothing in this section—
(A) creates or eliminates any Federal or State criminal jurisdiction over Indian country; or
(B) affects the authority of the United States or any State government that has been delegated authority by the United States to investigate and prosecute a criminal violation in Indian country.
(4) Exception if victim and defendant are both non-Indians
(A) In general
A participating tribe may not exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over an alleged offense, other than obstruction of justice or assault of Tribal justice personnel, if neither the defendant nor the alleged victim is an Indian.
(B) Definition of victim
In this paragraph and with respect to a criminal proceeding in which a participating tribe exercises special Tribal criminal jurisdiction based on a violation of a protection order, the term "victim" means a person specifically protected by a protection order that the defendant allegedly violated.
(c) Criminal conduct
A participating tribe may exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over a defendant for a covered crime that occurs in the Indian country of the participating tribe.
(d) Rights of defendants
In a criminal proceeding in which a participating tribe exercises special Tribal criminal jurisdiction, the participating tribe shall provide to the defendant—
(1) all applicable rights under this Act;
(2) if a term of imprisonment of any length may be imposed, all rights described in
(3) the right to a trial by an impartial jury that is drawn from sources that—
(A) reflect a fair cross section of the community; and
(B) do not systematically exclude any distinctive group in the community, including non-Indians; and
(4) all other rights whose protection is necessary under the Constitution of the United States in order for Congress to recognize and affirm the inherent power of the participating tribe to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over the defendant.
(e) Petitions to stay detention
(1) In general
A person who has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in a court of the United States under
(2) Grant of stay
A court shall grant a stay described in paragraph (1) if the court—
(A) finds that there is a substantial likelihood that the habeas corpus petition will be granted; and
(B) after giving each alleged victim in the matter an opportunity to be heard, finds by clear and convincing evidence that under conditions imposed by the court, the petitioner is not likely to flee or pose a danger to any person or the community if released.
(f) Petitions for writs of habeas corpus
(1) In general
After a defendant has been sentenced by a participating tribe, the defendant may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in a court of the United States under
(2) Requirement
An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to an order of a Tribal court shall not be granted unless —
(A) the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the Tribal court system;
(B) there is an absence of an available Tribal corrective process; or
(C) circumstances exist that render the Tribal corrective process ineffective to protect the rights of the applicant.
(g) Notice; habeas corpus petitions
A participating tribe that has ordered the detention of any person has a duty to timely notify in writing such person of their rights and privileges under this section and under
(h) Reimbursement and grants to Tribal governments
(1) Reimbursement
(A) In general
The Attorney General may reimburse Tribal government authorities (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government) for expenses incurred in exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction.
(B) Eligible expenses
Eligible expenses for reimbursement under subparagraph (A) shall include expenses and costs incurred in, relating to, or associated with—
(i) investigating, making arrests relating to, making apprehensions for, or prosecuting covered crimes (including costs involving the purchasing, collecting, and processing of sexual assault forensic materials);
(ii) detaining, providing supervision of, or providing services for persons charged with covered crimes (including costs associated with providing health care);
(iii) providing indigent defense services for 1 or more persons charged with 1 or more covered crimes; and
(iv) incarcerating, supervising, or providing treatment, rehabilitation, or reentry services for 1 or more persons charged with 1 or more covered crimes.
(C) Procedure
(i) In general
Reimbursements authorized under subparagraph (A) shall be in accordance with rules promulgated by the Attorney General, after consultation with Indian tribes, and within 1 year after March 15, 2022.
(ii) Maximum reimbursement
The rules promulgated by the Attorney General under clause (i)—
(I) shall set a maximum allowable reimbursement to any Tribal government (or an authorized designee of any Tribal government) in a 1-year period; and
(II) may allow the Attorney General—
(aa) to establish conditions under which a Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government) may seek a waiver to the maximum allowable reimbursement requirement established under subclause (I); and
(bb) to waive the maximum allowable reimbursement requirements established under subclause (I) for a Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government) if the conditions established by the Attorney General under item (aa) are met by that Tribal government (or authorized designee).
(iii) Timeliness of reimbursements
To the maximum extent practicable, the Attorney General shall—
(I) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Attorney General receives a qualifying reimbursement request from a Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government)—
(aa) reimburse the Tribal government (or authorized designee); or
(bb) notify the Tribal government (or authorized designee) of the reason by which the Attorney General was unable to issue the reimbursement; and
(II) not later than 30 days after the date on which a Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government) reaches the annual maximum allowable reimbursement for the Tribal government (or an authorized designee) established by the Attorney General under clause (ii)(I), notify the Tribal government (or authorized designee) that the Tribal government has reached its annual maximum allowable reimbursement.
(D) Eligibility for participating tribes in Alaska
A Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal Government) of an Indian tribe designated as a participating Tribe under subtitle B of title VIII of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 shall be eligible for reimbursement, in accordance with this paragraph, of expenses incurred in exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction under that subtitle.
(2) Grants
The Attorney General may award grants to Tribal governments (or authorized designees of Tribal governments), including a Tribal government (or an authorized designee of a Tribal government) of an Indian tribe designated as a participating Tribe under subtitle B of title VIII of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022—
(A) to strengthen Tribal criminal justice systems to assist Indian tribes in exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction, including for—
(i) law enforcement (including the capacity of law enforcement, court personnel, or other non-law enforcement entities that have no Federal or State arrest authority agencies but have been designated by an Indian tribe as responsible for maintaining public safety within the territorial jurisdiction of the Indian tribe, to enter information into and obtain information from national crime information databases);
(ii) prosecution;
(iii) trial and appellate courts (including facilities maintenance, renovation, and rehabilitation);
(iv) supervision systems;
(v) detention and corrections (including facilities maintenance, renovation, and rehabilitation);
(vi) treatment, rehabilitation, and reentry programs and services;
(vii) culturally appropriate services and assistance for victims and their families; and
(viii) criminal codes and rules of criminal procedure, appellate procedure, and evidence;
(B) to provide indigent criminal defendants with licensed defense counsel, at no cost to the defendant, in criminal proceedings in which a participating tribe prosecutes covered crimes;
(C) to ensure that, in criminal proceedings in which a participating tribe exercises special Tribal criminal jurisdiction, jurors are summoned, selected, and instructed in a manner consistent with all applicable requirements; and
(D) to accord victims of covered crimes rights that are similar to the rights of a crime victim described in
(i) Supplement, not supplant
Amounts made available under this section shall supplement and not supplant any other Federal, State, or local government amounts made available to carry out activities described in this section.
(j) Authorization of appropriations
(1) In general
There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027—
(A) to carry out subsection (h); and
(B) to provide training, technical assistance, data collection, and evaluation of the criminal justice systems of participating tribes.
(2) Limitations
Of the total amount made available under paragraph (1) for each fiscal year, not more than 40 percent shall be used for reimbursements under subsection (h)(1).
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), probably means title II of
Subtitle B of title VIII of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, referred to in subsec. (h)(1)(D), (2), is subtitle B (§§811–813) of title VIII of div. W of
Amendments
2022—
Subsec. (a)(1) to (5).
Subsec. (a)(6).
Subsec. (a)(7).
Subsec. (a)(8).
Subsec. (a)(9).
Subsec. (a)(10), (11).
Subsec. (a)(12), (13).
Subsec. (a)(14).
Subsec. (a)(15).
Subsec. (a)(16), (17).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (e)(3).
Subsecs. (f) to (j).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Dates; Pilot Project
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
Findings and Purposes
"(a)
"(1) American Indians and Alaska Natives are—
"(A) 2.5 times as likely to experience violent crimes; and
"(B) at least 2 times more likely to experience rape or sexual assault crimes;
"(2) more than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime;
"(3) the vast majority of American Indian and Alaska Native victims of violence—96 percent of women victims and 89 percent of male victims—have experienced sexual violence by a non-Indian perpetrator at least once in their lifetime;
"(4) Indian Tribes exercising special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians pursuant to section 204 of
"(5) Tribal prosecutors for Indian Tribes exercising special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction report that the majority of domestic violence cases involve children either as witnesses or victims, and the Department of Justice reports that American Indian and Alaska Native children suffer exposure to violence at one of the highest rates in the United States;
"(6) childhood exposure to violence can have immediate and long-term effects, including increased rates of altered neurological development, poor physical and mental health, poor school performance, substance abuse, and overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system;
"(7) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is—
"(A) the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women between 10 and 24 years of age; and
"(B) the fifth leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age;
"(8) in some areas of the United States, Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average;
"(9) according to a 2017 report by the Department of Justice, 66 percent of criminal prosecutions for crimes in Indian country that United States Attorneys declined to prosecute involved assault, murder, or sexual assault;
"(10) investigation into cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women is made difficult for Tribal law enforcement agencies due to a lack of resources, including a lack of—
"(A) necessary personnel, training, equipment, or funding;
"(B) interagency cooperation;
"(C) appropriate laws in place; and
"(D) access to Federal law enforcement databases;
"(11) domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous calls that law enforcement receives;
"(12) the complicated jurisdictional scheme that exists in Indian country—
"(A) has a significant impact on public safety in Indian communities;
"(B) according to Tribal justice officials, has been increasingly exploited by criminals; and
"(C) requires a high degree of commitment and cooperation among Tribal, Federal, and State law enforcement officials;
"(13) restoring and enhancing Tribal capacity to address violence against women provides for greater local control, safety, accountability, and transparency;
"(14) Indian Tribes with restrictive settlement Acts, such as Indian Tribes in the State of Maine, and Indian Tribes located in States with concurrent authority to prosecute crimes in Indian country under the amendments made by the Act of August 15, 1953 (
"(15) Native Hawaiians experience a disproportionately high rate of human trafficking, with 64 percent of human trafficking victims in the State of Hawai'i identifying as at least part Native Hawaiian.
"(b)
"(1) to clarify the responsibilities of Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies with respect to responding to cases of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking, sexual violence, crimes against children, and assault against Tribal law enforcement officers;
"(2) to increase coordination and communication among Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies;
"(3) to empower Tribal governments and Native American communities, including urban Indian communities and Native Hawaiian communities, with the resources and information necessary to effectively respond to cases of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and missing or murdered Native Americans; and
"(4) to increase the collection of data related to missing or murdered Native Americans and the sharing of information among Federal, State, Tribal, and local officials responsible for responding to and investigating crimes impacting Indian Tribes and Native American communities, including urban Indian communities and Native Hawaiian communities, especially crimes relating to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans."
[For definitions of terms used in section 801 of div. W of
§1305. Tribal jurisdiction in Alaska
(a) In general
Subject to title II of
(b) Tribal civil jurisdiction to enforce protection orders
(1) In general
A court of any Indian tribe in the State shall have full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders involving any person in matters—
(A) arising within the Village of the Indian tribe; or
(B) otherwise within the authority of the Indian tribe.
(2) Inclusions
The full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders under paragraph (1) includes the authority to enforce protection orders through—
(A) civil contempt proceedings;
(B) exclusion of violators from the Village of the Indian tribe; and
(C) other appropriate mechanisms.
(c) Special Tribal criminal jurisdiction
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in addition to all powers of self-government recognized and affirmed under subsection (a), the powers of self-government of a participating Tribe include the inherent power of the participating Tribe, which is hereby recognized and affirmed, to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over a defendant for a covered crime that occurs in the Village of the participating Tribe.
(2) Concurrent jurisdiction
The exercise of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction by a participating Tribe shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of the United States, the State, or both.
(3) Exception if victim and defendant are both non-Indians
(A) In general
A participating Tribe may not exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over an alleged offense of a covered crime, other than obstruction of justice or assault of Tribal justice personnel, if neither the defendant nor the alleged victim is an Indian.
(B) Definition of victim
In this paragraph and with respect to a criminal proceeding in which a participating Tribe exercises special Tribal criminal jurisdiction based on a violation of a protection order, the term "victim" means a person specifically protected by the protection order that the defendant allegedly violated.
(d) Pilot program for special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over persons who are not Indians
(1) Establishment
Subject to title II of
(2) Procedure
At any time during the 1-year period beginning on March 15, 2022, and annually thereafter, an Indian tribe may request the Attorney General to designate the Indian tribe as a participating Tribe under paragraph (1).
(3) Designation of participating tribes
(A) In general
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and affected Indian tribes, shall establish a process to designate Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program, which process shall—
(i) require that preference shall be given to Indian tribes occupying Villages—
(I) the populations of which are predominantly Indian; and
(II) that lack a permanent State law enforcement physical presence;
(ii) require that for each Indian tribe requesting to be designated as a participating Tribe, the Attorney General makes a determination that the criminal justice system of the Indian tribe has adequate safeguards in place to protect defendants' rights, consistent with section 204(d) of
(iii) be subject to such other criteria as the Attorney General considers to be appropriate to achieve the purposes of this subtitle.
(B) Designation
The Attorney General shall designate Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program under paragraph (1) using the process established under subparagraph (A).
(4) Intertribal participation
(A) In general
2 or more participating Tribes (or the Tribal organization (as defined in
(i) may elect to participate jointly in the pilot program by providing shared resources to carry out the purposes of the pilot program; and
(ii) on making an election pursuant to clause (i), shall be considered to be a single participating Tribe for purposes of the maximum number of participating Tribes under paragraphs (1) and (5).
(B) Additional participating tribes
(i) In general
Additional participating Tribes may elect to join an established intertribal partnership under subparagraph (A) at any time after the intertribal partnership is established.
(ii) Application
An intertribal partnership that additional participating Tribes elect to join pursuant to clause (i) shall be considered to be a single participating Tribe for purposes of the maximum number of participating Tribes under paragraphs (1) and (5).
(5) Maximum number of participating tribes
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Attorney General may designate not more than 30 Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program.
(B) Exception
The limitation under subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the Attorney General submits to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and publishes in the Federal Register, a written notice of the intention to designate additional Indian tribes as participating Tribes, including the rationale for the designation, by not later than the date that is 180 days before the date of designation.
(6) Description of jurisdiction
Congress recognizes and affirms that an Indian tribe selected to participate in the pilot program as a participating Tribe may exercise, subject to paragraph (7), special Tribal criminal jurisdiction with respect to covered crimes.
(7) Rights of defendants
In exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction under the pilot program, a participating Tribe shall provide to each defendant all rights described in section 204(d) of
(e) Sentences
In a criminal proceeding in which an Indian court of a participating Tribe, in exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction with respect to a covered crime, imposes a sentence of imprisonment of more than 1 year on a defendant pursuant to section 202(b) of
(1) to serve a sentence—
(A) in a Tribal correctional center that has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for long-term incarceration, in accordance with guidelines set by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(B) at the expense of the United States, in the nearest appropriate Federal facility pursuant to the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program established under
(C) at the expense of the participating Tribe and, subject to section 204(f)(1) of
(2) to serve another alternative form of punishment, as determined by the Indian court pursuant to Tribal law.
(f) Memoranda of agreement
The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Interior may enter into such memoranda of agreement with participating Tribes and the State as are necessary and appropriate—
(1) to coordinate respective law enforcement activities;
(2) to share equipment and other resources;
(3) to establish cross-deputization arrangements;
(4) to coordinate appropriate training activities; and
(5) to address any other matters that will facilitate the successful implementation of the pilot program, including intergovernmental agreements regarding—
(A) the incarceration of convicted persons; and
(B) cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
(g) Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee
(1) Establishment
Not later than 1 year March 15, 2022, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, affected Indian tribes, and the State, shall establish a committee, to be known as the "Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee" (referred to in this subsection as the "Committee").
(2) Membership
The Committee shall consist of 1 or more representatives from—
(A) participating Tribes and Indian tribes aspiring to participate in the pilot program;
(B) Federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement; and
(C) Tribal nonprofit organizations providing victim services.
(3) Duties
The Committee shall focus on—
(A) improving the justice systems, crime prevention, and victim services of Indian tribes and the State; and
(B) increasing coordination and communication among Federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(4) Travel expenses
A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
(5) Nonapplicability of FACA
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 1 shall not apply to the Committee.
(6) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to remain available until expended.
(h) Report to Congress
Not later than 5 years after March 15, 2022, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and affected Indian tribes, shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the pilot program, including an explanation of any modifications to law necessary to facilitate improved law enforcement in Villages.
(i) Applicability
Nothing in this subtitle—
(1) limits, alters, expands, or diminishes the civil or criminal jurisdiction of the United States, the State, any subdivision of the State, or any Indian tribe in the State;
(2) creates or eliminates any Federal or State criminal jurisdiction over a Village; or
(3) affects the authority of the United States or any authority delegated by the United States to the State to investigate and prosecute a criminal violation in a Village.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(1), is title II of
This subtitle, referred to in subsecs. (d)(3)(A)(iii) and (i), is subtitle B (§§811–813) of title VIII of div. W of
The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(5), is
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, and not as part of Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 which comprises this subchapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of
Findings; Purposes
"(a)
"(1) according to the report of the Indian Law and Order Commission established by section 15 of the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act (
"(A) are overrepresented in the domestic violence victim population by 250 percent;
"(B) in the State of Alaska, comprise—
"(i) 19 percent of the population of the State; but
"(ii) 47 percent of reported rape victims in the State; and
"(C) as compared to the populations of other Indian Tribes, suffer the highest rates of domestic and sexual violence;
"(2) most Alaska Native villages are located in remote areas that—
"(A) are often inaccessible by road; and
"(B) have no local law enforcement presence;
"(3) the Commission referred to in paragraph (1)—
"(A) determined that the Alaska Department of Public Safety—
"(i) has primary responsibility for law enforcement in rural Alaska; but
"(ii) provides only 1 to 1.4 field officers per 1,000,000 acres; and
"(B) recommended that 'devolving authority to Alaska Native communities is essential for addressing local crime. Their governments are best positioned to effectively arrest, prosecute, and punish, and they should have the authority to do so-or to work out voluntary agreements with each other, and with local governments and the State on mutually beneficial terms'; and
"(4) the unique legal relationship of the United States to Indian Tribes creates a Federal trust responsibility to assist Tribal governments in safeguarding the lives of Indian women.
"(b)
"(1) to increase coordination and communication among Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies; and
"(2) to empower Indian Tribes to effectively respond to cases of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and missing or murdered Alaska Natives through the exercise of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction."
[For definitions of terms used in section 811 of div. W of
Definitions
For definitions of terms used in this section, see
"(1)
"(A)
"(B)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(6)
"(7)