Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2013, $283,394)
Authorized by 25 USC 3651, et seq., BJA's Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance (TCCLA) grants serve to enhance operations of tribal court systems and improve access to those systems through legal services; and to support the development and enhancement of tribal justice systems. The FY 2013 TCCLA Program will support programs under three categories - 1) civil, 2) criminal, and 3) training and technical assistance. For Categories 1, Civil and 2, Criminal, eligible applicants were non-profit organizations with a tax status of 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue Service Code, including tribal enterprises and educational institutions. The grants in categories 1 and 2 are designed to strengthen and improve the representation of indigent defendants in criminal cases and indigent respondents in civil causes of action under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes. For Category 3, TTA, eligible applicants were national or regional membership organizations and associations whose membership or a membership section consists of judicial system personnel within tribal justice systems. The awards are designed to provide quality training and technical assistance to develop and enhance tribal justice systems.
The award recipient will use the category two (criminal) funds to enhance the operations of tribal justice systems and improve access to those systems through the representation of defendants in criminal cases under the jurisdiction of Indian tribes and to provide legal representation to Tribes in criminal matters.
The William Mitchell College of Law Indian Law will use funds to provide legal counsel for indigent defendants in tribal courts. The grantee will also use funding to travel to tribal governments for code development and to provide legal representation. By providing clinical services to tribal governments, the next generation of Indian law practitioners is trained and tribal nations receive the assistance needed.
CA/NCF