Yurok Multi-Purpose Justice Center Phase II

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 federally recognized tribe to encourage comprehensive assessments of need and planning. Each tribe could apply for funding under nine purpose areas, which included funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing, Office of Justice Programs (including the Bureau of Justice Assistance, 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 nine purpose areas total, and purpose area 4 was dedicated to the Tribal Justice Systems Infrastructure Program (TJSIP).

Funding through the Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program will support efforts to renovate or expand buildings to enhance conditions or to change the use of a building to any of the following purposes: single jurisdiction or regional tribal correctional facilities, correctional alternative facilities, multipurpose justice centers (including police departments, courts, and corrections), and transitional living facilities (halfway houses) associated with the incarceration and rehabilitation of juvenile or adult offenders. Funds may also be used to develop and implement correctional alternatives.

In FY 2012, the Yurok Tribe received a Tribal Justice System Infrastructure Program grant under the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation to fund the construction of a Multi-Purpose Justice Center (MPJC) (Phase I) that houses the main functions and programming of the Yurok Tribal Court. The MPJC includes a courtroom, judge's chambers, court clerk area, mediation/multi-purpose room, drug testing, self-help area, waiting area, public restrooms, and offices for court personnel (attorneys, advocates, and wellness). The grant amount was not sufficient to include the Yurok Department of Public Safety police station in the first phase of the construction project. Therefore, the tribe will use FY 2015 funding to expand the existing MPJC to include the YDPS within the Yurok Multi-Purpose Justice Center (Phase II).

CA/NCF