The goals of the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance (TCCLA) Program are (1) to build and enhance capacity and improve delivery of civil and criminal legal services to individuals and tribes, as well as develop policies that improve access to tribal justice systems and (2) provide training and technical assistance for development and enhancement of tribal justice systems.
The TCCLA program provides legal aid and indigent defense to low-income individuals and Indian tribes and provides training and technical assistance to TCCLA and Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grantees and interested Indian tribes to support the goals above.
TCCLA Funding Categories
TCCLA funding can be awarded under the following categories:
CATEGORY 1: TRIBAL CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Eligible applicants in Category 1 are limited to nonprofit organizations as defined by 26 U.S.C § 501(c)(3), including tribal nonprofit organizations, tribal enterprises, and educational institutions (public, private, and tribal colleges and universities) with experience providing legal assistance services to eligible individuals pursuant to federal poverty guidelines, federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), or tribal justice systems. Federal poverty guidelines are updated every year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Resources may support legal assistance services for Indian tribes, members of Indian tribes, and tribal justice systems, including guardian ad-litem appointments, court-appointed special advocates pursuant to the federal poverty guidelines and development and enhancement of tribal court policies, procedures and code.
CATEGORY 2: TRIBAL CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Eligible applicants in Category 2 are limited to nonprofit organizations as defined by 26 U.S.C § 501(c)(3), including tribal nonprofit organizations, tribal enterprises, and educational institutions (public, private, and tribal colleges and universities) with experience providing legal assistance services to eligible individuals pursuant to federal poverty guidelines, federally recognized Indian tribes (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior), or tribal justice systems. Federal poverty guidelines are updated every year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Criminal legal assistance services may include adult criminal actions, juvenile delinquency actions, guardian ad-litem appointments arising out of criminal delinquency acts or development and enhancement of tribal court policies, procedures and code.
CATEGORY 3: TRIBAL JUSTICE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Eligible applicants in Category 3 are limited to national or regional membership organizations and associations whose membership consist of judicial system personnel within tribal justice systems.
Legislation
Authorized by Title I of the Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000, (25 U.S.C. 3651, et. seq.).
Program Contact
Norena Henry
Senior Policy Advisor
202-616-3205
Email: [email protected]