MLBO Tribal Court Renovations

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 in 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.

The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe will use their grant to renovate the courtroom and adjoining offices. This will alleviate many of the space and security issues they currently have. The renovation will allow Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to restructure their courtroom to provide more room for litigants and attorneys. Funds will also be used to install a metal detector at the entry to the courtroom, install security glass in the customer service area of court administration, and secure seating in the courtroom.
CA/NCF