Budgetary needs for Alaska Tribal justice systems and other concerns related to Public Law 83-280
The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) would like to share the following consultation opportunity regarding budgetary needs for Tribal justice systems and other concerns related to Public Law 83-280 (P.L. 280). The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Office of Justice Services (OJS) will host this session on August 7, 2024. Click here to read the Dear Tribal Leader Letter.
Public safety has been a top priority for AFN. One of the main issues and hurdles to ensuring our communities have access to public safety authorities and programming has been Alaska’s PL-280 status. This status means Alaska tribes do not receive Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) base funding for Public Safety and Justice (PSJ) programs. As a result, Alaska tribes are forced to fund their tribal safety and justice services through short-term/cyclical competitive grants.
In 2022, AFN Delegates passed Resolution 22-7, “Calling for Annual, Non-Competitive, Base Tribal Justice Funding for PL-280 Tribes.” This resolution calls on the Department of Interior to provide dedicated annual non-competitive base funding for PL-280 tribes to develop and sustain tribal court systems, provide public safety and related services, and assist with intergovernmental agreements. Click here to read AFN Resolution 22-7.
The Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) has recently released a comprehensive tribal alert outlining the urgent need for dedicated, non-competitive base funding to build and maintain public safety, law enforcement, and tribal justice infrastructure in Alaska. Click here to read this alert.
AFN highly encourages our membership to participate in this critical consultation session. BIA will host this consultation session on August 7, 2024, at 1 p.m. ET or 9 a.m. Alaska time. The consultation will take place over Zoom. Any comments, concerns, and recommendations regarding state jurisdiction under Public Law 83-280 on Tribal lands are welcome.
To participate, you must register through this Zoom link https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfuCvqzkqE24chsHVqfGdTr-_vaeS-3c#/registration
You may provide written comments to [email protected] by 11:59 P.M. ET on August 14, 2024. If you have questions regarding this consultation, please contact Kevin Martin, Office of Justice Services, at [email protected] or at (202) 657-3620.
You may also contact ANJC with any questions at [email protected].