Domestic Violence Courts

The Little Rock, Arkansas Violence Reduction Network (VRN) site requested training for their prosecution team in special offenses, such as domestic violence and sexual assault. The National Association of District Attorneys was selected as the provider and the training is scheduled for November 2017.

TTA recipients (public defender offices), chosen through a highly selective application process, receive twelve months of intensive, hands-on assistance focusing on those particular aspects of holistic defense identified by the recipient office. Integrating holistic defense into any public defender office is a transformative process and one that often happens incrementally. As such, we expect applicant offices to focus their requests for assistance either on a specific area or on those areas needing the most support and with the greatest potential for change.

Kelly Stoner met with the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma to train the Violence Free Living Program staff on the Violence Against Women Act Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians (SDVCJ) and Tribal Code reviews.She provided a debrief on the sixth in person ITWG meeting debrief and to answer questions.

Kelly Stoner presented information on "Prosecuting Sexual Violence in Indian Country." This included a discussion on VAWA Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians.

Kelly Stoner presented on American Indian/Alaska Native rates of Domestic Violence and VAWA 2013 Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction over non-Indians.Kelly reviewed updates for tribal courts regarding the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013).

This webinar was an overview of CTAS funding availability and purpose areas to fund domestic violence dockets in tribal court and/or domestic violence courts.

Kelly Stoner presented "Providing Services to Victims in Indian Country." Kelly discussed assisting Indian tribes in developing and promoting state, local, and tribal legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to violent crimes against Indian women, including the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking.
This included federal law updates on tribal implementation efforts regarding the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013).

Kelly Stoner presented "Using Federal Law and Tribal Law to Increase Safety for Indian Women: TLOA and VAWA 2013 Implementation." Kelly reviewed federal law updates on tribal court implementation efforts for the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA) and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013).

Chia Halpern presented a PowerPoint at the CTAS orientation regarding diversionary courts and programs. This included a discussion of Healing to Wellness Courts, DUI Courts, Peacemaking Courts, Domestic Violence Courts, Veterans Courts, Mental Health Courts, Girls Courts, Gang Courts, and Truancy Courts. Chia also discussed how these courts can assist tribal communities and the nuances of implementing such courts in tribal communities.

Chia Halpern provided to CTAS grantees (at the CTAS orientation) the TLPI generated chart that tracks which tribes have enacted: Tribal Law and Order Act Enhanced Sentencing (TLOA ESA)and/or Violence Against Women Act Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (VAWA SDVCJ). Chia discussed the TA services that TLPI provides in conjunction with the National Congress of American Indians for the Intertribal Technical Assistance Working Group (ITWG) for tribes implementing or preparing to implement VAWA SDVCJ.