MULTIPLE TRIBAL COMMUNITY PROSECUTORS RECEIVE FEDERAL CROSS-COMMISSIONING

From October 31 through November 4, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona held a week-long course to train prosecutors from several of Arizona’s tribal governments so they may participate in the federal prosecution of offenders from their communities.

The training kicks off the U.S. Attorney’s Office -Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) program.  This cross-commissioning is encouraged by the Tribal Law and Order Act and mandated by the District of Arizona’s Operational Plan for Public Safety in Indian Country click.

The goal of the Tribal SAUSA program is to train eligible tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable criminal offense is prosecuted in tribal court, federal court or both.  The program also allows the tribal prosecutors to co-counsel with federal prosecutors on felony investigations and prosecutions of offenses arising out of their respective tribal communities. After completing training, each tribal SAUSA will be mentored by an experienced federal prosecutor assigned to the District of Arizona’s Violent Crime Section

The District of Arizona’s SAUSA program currently has 13 participants from 8 participating tribes – the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe —  and is expected to grow.

Seven tribal prosecutors participated in the training course this week, which included classroom work and participation in proceedings before the federal court and grand jury. The remaining participants will attend an identical training planned for January 2012.

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-247(Tribal SAUSAs)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visithttp://www.justice.gov/usao/az