Laguna Pueblo Court Improvement Projects

The Department of Justice developed a comprehensive and coordinated approach for tribal governments to apply for funding to reduce and prevent crime and victimization. Through this process, the Department's existing tribal government-specific programs are included in, and available through a single Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS). Through this solicitation, only one application was accepted from each federal recognized tribe to encourage comprehensive assessments of need and planning. Each tribe could apply for funding under up to ten purpose areas, which included funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (including BJA, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) and Office on Violence Against Women. The tribe had the flexibility to select the purpose areas whose funding addressed the needs of the tribe as outlined in its tribal and community profile. There were ten purpose areas total, and Purpose Area 3 was dedicated to Justice Systems, and alcohol and substance abuse. The Tribal Courts Assistance Program (TCAP) will fund a portion of the projects selected for award through purpose area 3. Tribes were encouraged to apply for funds under one or more of the following goals and objectives: to develop and enhance the operation of Tribal justice systems; to train Tribal justice staff; to plan new or enhance existing various Tribal courts, such as peacemaking courts, healing to wellness courts, sentencing circles, and other alternative justice courts; and to support diversion programs, Tribal probation services, and alternative dispute resolution methods. The Pueblo of Laguna will use FY 2012 TCAP funds to enhance Pueblo Court services to: 1) enhance court clerk services and job performance; 2) improve the Pueblo Community Healing Wellness Court; and 3) improve public defender services. The funds for court clerk services will be used to create and fill the position of Chief Court Clerk of the Pueblo Court, and for consulting and training. Funds for the Wellness Court will be used to create and fill the position of Wellness Court coordinator. Funds for the public defender services will be used to hire contract attorneys to handle the existing public defender conflict of interest cases and to handle court appearances when the full-time public defender is unavailable. CA/NCF