Tribal Courts Assistance Program - Enhancing the Operation of Tribal Courts

This award is made under the FY 2008 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 Oneida Tribe of Indians will utilize fiscal year 2008 Tribal Courts Assistance Program Category III Enhancing the Operation of Tribal Courts grant funds to purchase and maintain a case management system. This system will offer a variety of capabilities and can be sized to fit the specific needs of any court. The system will enable the tribal court to track case files in a timely manner, while ensuring the security of files. The project objectives are to research the purchase of potential case management systems by contacting other tribal courts; train the court administrator to monitor current case loads and assist with transitioning to the new case management system; and scan the current case load into the new system. The grant will fund a full-time administrative assistant that will assist with scanning all case files and provide administrative support for the court administrator.

CA/NCF