Domestic Violence Courts

Jerry Gardner, Kelly Stoner and Chia Halpern assisted the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) with planning and facilitating the seventh in-person Intertribal Technical Assistance Working Group (ITWG) on VAWA Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians meeting at the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation in California.

Chia Halpern moderated. Kelly Stoner presented during the third and final of the series on Tribal Protection Orders and VAWA Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians webinars. The webinar discussed what powers judges have to maintain the safety, order and integrity of the court while issuing and enforcing tribal protection orders against Indians and non-Indians under VAWA SDVCJ.

Chia Halpern moderated. Kelly Stoner presented on the second in a webinar series on tribal protection orders and VAWA Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians. This webinar addressed how to enforce tribal protection orders through: criminal prosecution, criminal contempt, and civil contempt. Enforcing tribal protection order under the VAWA SDVCJ was also addressed.

Chia Halpern moderated. Kelly Stoner presented during the first of series on Tribal Protection Orders and VAWA Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians webinars. The webinar discussed how to craft tribal protection orders, what language must be included in a tribal protection order, and how to meet the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) full faith and credit provision.

Chia Halpern moderated and Kelly Stoner presented the webinar that focused on key tribal code development or revision considerations needed in order for tribes to exercise the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) 2013 Enhanced Jurisdiction and/or Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) Enhanced Sentencing. The webinar reviewed the recently updated and expanded tribal code resource Tribal Laws: Implementing TLOA VAWA Enhanced Jurisdiction and Enhanced Sentencing which has been developed by the Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI).

TLPI is working with the New York Tribal State Court Forum by providing a presenter at their bi annual forum meeting in Syracuse, NY. Judge William Thorne will speak to the group about organizational issues and potentially institutionalizing the forum.

Showcasing innovations in criminal justice.

As part of our on-going one-year grant of technical assistance in all aspects of holistic defense to the Muskegon County Public Defender Office, several members of The Center for Holistic Defense travelled to Muskegon, Michigan to conduct several days of on-site study, evaluation, guidance, and training in various aspects of holistic defense.

The training helps prosecutors plan, implement, and evaluate new prosecutor-led diversion options. Funded under the Second Chance Act, the program seeks to encourage and provide assistance to prosecutors who are building the next generation of diversion programming: programs that serve individuals who are jail or prison bound and who frequently suffer from mental illness or drug dependency issues.