Enhancing Capacity, Improving Performance - A Model for Progress

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Confederated Salish and Kootnai Tribes (CSKT) will use the FY 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Award grant to improve the operation and management of their Appellate Court. These improvements will enhance the Appellate Court's performance by providing cultural sensitivity training to judicial officers, promoting cross jurisdictional collaboration, and purchasing an internet-based research program. The cultural sensitivity training will combine bar, cultural and traditional components to promote a better understanding of the tribal court system for non-Native lawyers working within the system. The CSKT will improve their court system's performance by creating and training a pool of alternate justices to sit in and decide on hearings during the absence of regularly scheduled judicial officers.

CA/NCF