Tribal Justice System Analysis

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Within the United States there exists a separate, but not all together separate, justice system for Native Americans. In Tribal Courts the general rule is that states have no jurisdiction over the activities of Indians and tribes in Indian country. As the book states, “Native American tribes are recognized as semi-sovereign nations with broad (although, not complete) powers of self-government within the boarders of the United States. There are more than 500 federally recognized Native American tribes and about 330 federally recognized reservations, and approximately 200 have separate law enforcement agencies” (p. 140-141). In the existing tribal court system alcohol and drug abuse cases are handled by the tribal healing to wellness court, a component of the tribal justice system. These courts reflect the philosophy of therapeutic healing and treatment of the offender. As the book notes, tribal healing to wellness court “meets the cultural needs of the individual and Native communities and their long-established traditional Native concepts of justice” (p.421). The Native American Alliance Foundation states that a team “not only of tribal judges, advocates, prosecutors, police officers, educators, and substance abuse and mental health professionals, …show more content…

The book explains that the “tribal police departments suffer from inadequate budgets and equipment, poor management, high levels of personnel turnover, and considerable political influence” (p 141). Who will pay for the constant treatment, possibly round-the-clock professional care, food ad shelter? I would suggest, as was mentioned in class, that minute amounts, $1 for example, is added to the car registration fee, license renewal fee and now that online gambling has become so popular, adding an additional $5 for membership / permission to gamble could cover the cost of treatment and healing those in