The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women is seeking applications for the FY 2018 Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ) program. Eligible applicants are limited to Native American tribal governments that have jurisdiction over Indian Country.
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 included a provision recognizing the authority of participating tribes to exercise SDVCJ over certain defendants, regardless of their Indian or non-Indian status, who commit crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, or violate certain protection orders in Indian Country. The program is designed to assist Native American tribes in exercising SDVCJ. Through this grant program, tribes receive support and technical assistance for planning, developing, and implementing the changes in their criminal justice systems necessary to exercise SDVCJ. The program encourages collaborations among tribal leadership, tribal courts, tribal prosecutors, tribal attorneys, tribal defenders, law enforcement, probation, service providers, and other partners to ensure that non-Indians who commit crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of protection orders are held accountable.
The solicitation provides more details about the program. Applications are due by June 7.
Source: JusticeCenter