Tribal Justice Office Embroiled in Corruption Scandal

The Office of Tribal Justice, a component within the Justice Department’s organizational structure, has been embroiled in a corruption scandal. Established in 1995 as a unit within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the office has served as the primary channel for tribes to communicate their concerns to the department, helped coordinate policy on Indian affairs, and sought to ensure that the department and its components work with tribes on a government-to-government basis.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced the establishment of the Office of Tribal Justice as a separate component within the Justice Department in 2010, citing the department’s commitment to tribal issues. The office was required by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama on July 29, 2010. The statute was adopted with the support of the department and the administration.

The Office of Tribal Justice was originally established in 1995 as a unit within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General in response to tribal concerns. Since that time, the Office of Tribal Justice has served as the primary channel for tribes to communicate their concerns to the department, helped coordinate policy on Indian affairs both within the department and with other federal agencies, and sought to ensure that the department and its components work with tribes on a government-to-government basis.

The office has been at the center of several high-profile initiatives, including the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, which provided hundreds of American Indian and Alaska Native communities with almost $127 million to enhance law enforcement, bolster justice systems, prevent youth substance abuse, serve sexual assault and elder victims, and support other efforts to combat crime.

In January 2010, the deputy attorney general directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices with districts containing Indian Country (44 out of 93) to: meet and consult with tribes in their district annually; develop an operational plan addressing public safety in Indian country; work closely with tribal law enforcement on improving public safety in tribal communities, and to pay particular attention to violence against women in Indian country and make prosecuting these crimes a priority.

The Office of Tribal Justice continues to fulfill the department and administration’s commitment to a consultation and coordination policy that ensures effective communication with Indian tribes. The director of the office is the official designated to ensure departmental compliance with Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. The office frequently engages in tribal consultations and related government-to-government communications with leaders from Indian tribes.

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