Taos Pueblo Tribal Courts Assistance Project

This award is made under the FY 2006 Tribal Courts Assistance Program and it supports the development, implementation, enhancement, and continuing operation of tribal justice systems. Allowable elements under the program may include, but are not limited to: establishing a core structure for a tribal court, improving case management, training court personnel, acquiring additional equipment and/or software, enhancing prosecution and indigent defense, supporting probation diversion and alternative sentencing programs, accessing services, focusing on juvenile services and multi disciplinary protocols for child physical and sexual abuse, and structuring intertribal or tribal appellate systems.

The Pueblo of Taos is a current recipient of an FY 2003 BJA-funded tribal court implementation grant that supports judicial, probation, and public defender services. The Pueblo has identified the need for increased funding to continue supporting its court services and to upgrade its Information Technology (IT) infrastructure. The 2006 TCAP award will enhance the Pueblo's court system by continuing efforts funded under the 2003 BJA grant and will support training to court staff and its Advisory Team, as well as, the development of a tribal justice information-sharing system to facilitate communication and data entry within the Taos Pueblo judicial system.

The Pueblo's judicial system is a court of record and general jurisdiction that provides an efficient forum for the adjudication of criminal, civil, traffic, domestic relations and violence, juvenile, and probate cases -- as set out in the various codes, tribal resolutions, and ordinances by the Pueblo's tribal government. Presently, the tribal court receives funds via the Bureau of Indian Affairs to support its court administrator and court clerk FTE positions. Under the 2003 TCAP award, the Pueblo has utilized the services of a contractual tribal judge and public defender, as well as, a full-time adult/juvenile probation officer. These services are the most basic components of an effective tribal judicial system. Because the Pueblo's court is managing an increasing caseload, the court seeks to retain the afore-mentioned services (adjudicative and administrative), enhance its IT infrastructure (computer record maintenance and data collection), and review and revise its tribal laws and codes.

CA/NCF