DOJ has released a draft tribal consultation policy available here. Public comments on the consultation policy are due by December 31st. Comments should be sent to USAEO.DOJTribalConsultation@usdoj.gov
Department of Justice
Update in Muffingate
NNBA Supports DOJ Investigation into Killing of Ditidaht Carver
The statement from the National Native American Bar Association can be found here. An excerpt:
The National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) condemns the killing of John T. Williams by a Seattle Police officer in August of 2010. Williams was a talented Ditidaht First Nations carver who for many years endured the significant challenges facing homeless Native people in Seattle. His killing has outraged the Tribal community and raised serious concerns about equal justice and Seattle Police Department accountability.
The following is a story about the investigation from earlier this month in the Seattle Times:
Two Seattle police officers have agreed to cooperate in the FBI’s investigation into the fatal shooting of woodcarver John T. Williams by a former officer, but only after they were subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury, according to police officials.
and
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI are investigating whether Birk violated Williams’ civil rights.
The federal review into the shooting is separate from the Justice Department’s broad civil-rights investigation of the Police Department announced in March. That federal investigation is focused on allegations related to use-of-force and biased policing.
DOJ Seeks Tribal Leader Input on Eagle Feathers
Long Term Plan to Build and Enhance Tribal Justice Systems
Earlier this month the DOI and DOJ released the Long Term Plan to Build and Enhance Tribal Justice Systems. An excerpt:
Central Themes of the Tribal Justice Plan
The following major themes emerged from consultation and public comment:
- Establishing alternatives to incarceration should be the major focus.
- The Tribal Justice Plan should be implemented in consultation and collaboration with Tribal Leaders and should be flexible enough to allow tribes to develop strategies tailored to their specific public safety needs and tribal history and culture.
- The Tribal Justice Plan should coordinate federal, tribal, state and local government resources to support operations, programming in tribal justice systems, and critical infrastructure issues with tribal correctional facilities, fully mindful of the sovereign status of tribes in these coordination efforts.
- There should be greater coordination between DOJ and DOI with respect to awards for grants that may be used to construct tribal correctional facilities and multi-purpose justice centers (which may be provided by DOJ) and P.L. 93-638 contracts and self-governance compacts for funding operations (provided only by DOI). The Departments are committed to addressing the issue of coordination to address this and other issues related to detention in Indian country.
Additional links can be found at NCAI.
DOJ Consultation on Violence against Women Act Reauthorization and Possible Responses to Violence against Indian Women
Here are the documents:
DOJ Issues Proposed Rule on Tribal Law and Order Act Assumption of Criminal Jurisdiction by Tribes in PL280 States
Here is the proposed rule.
DOJ Tribal Consultation
Save the date!
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) will be holding a government-to-government Tribal Consultation session October 4-5, 2010, at the Northern Quest Resort in Spokane, Washington.
The first day of the consultation will focus on violence against Native women. DOJ will solicit recommendations from tribal leaders on enhancing the safety of Native women and strengthening the federal response to crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The second day will be devoted to consultation on DOJ grant funding for tribal governments. DOJ officials would like to hear feedback from tribal leaders about their experiences with the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), the new coordinated tribal grants application process utilized by the Department for Fiscal Year 2010, and solicit recommendations for how the process could be improved for Fiscal Year 2011.
DOJ will be hosting a series of scoping calls with interested tribal leaders to develop the agenda for the upcoming consultation session. The first call will take place on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 4pm EASTERN time. The call-in number is 1-888-450-5996; passcode 2179888.
From ICT: Brendan Johnson Appointed Head of DOJ Committee
With an extensive quote from Prof. Fletcher:
Johnson to head Native DoJ committee
By Rob Capriccioso
Story Published: Nov 23, 2009
Story Updated: Nov 23, 2009
WASHINGTON – With a non-Native picked to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s Native American Issues Subcommittee, some are taking the opportunity to highlight the importance of Indian inclusion within the national legal scene.
It was announced the week of Nov. 16 that Brendan Johnson, the U.S. attorney for South Dakota, was chosen by the Obama administration to head the committee, which is made up of federal prosecutors who serve in jurisdictions with large numbers of Indians.
The newcomer to the national scene was confirmed to his top lawyer position in October. He is the son of Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota, a longtime advocate of Native American issues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Those who know the younger Johnson expect him to continue on his father’s path while leading the committee, which is intended to advise Attorney General Eric Holder on public safety and legal issues in Indian country.
BLT: DOJ Promises Increased Crime-Fighting in Indian Country
From BLT:
The Justice Department announced today a renewed effort to improve law enforcement on tribal land through a partnership among Native American leaders and the federal government.
Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli, addressing more than 500 attendees at the National Congress on American Indians in New York, said the department later this year will convene a Tribal Nationals Listening Conference to address public safety concerns on tribal land. Click here for a copy of Perrelli’s prepared remarks, provided by the Justice Department.
The listening conference and a planned series of regional summits are expected to address, among other topics, federal prosecution in Indian country, development of tribal courts, domestic violence, substance abuse, civil rights and litigation involving tribes. The initiative, Perrelli says, is “tremendously important.”
Turtle Talk 
You must be logged in to post a comment.