FY 2007 Hoopa Tribal Category III Tier I Court Enhancement Project

This award is made under the FY 2007 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 Hoopa Valley Tribe will use the 2007 tribal court funding to enhance the existing court. The purpose of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Court is to resolve disputes between community members. The court is structured similar to state or federal courts, with a court clerk's office where papers are filed and a Judge presides over hearings held in a courtroom. This project will not alter that structure, but will rather supplement the current structure with additional resource options. The Hoopa Valley Tribal Court staff will act as the project advisory team and will oversee the completion of the project goals and objectives which are: 1) maintain and improve the efficiency of the current court personnel; 2) increase the administrative and operating efficiency in the court room; 3) increase culturally appropriate case resolution; and 4) increase community education on court procedure.

CA/NCF