Tribal Court Assistance Program (16.608)

Program

16.608 Tribal Court Assistance Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Justice
Office: Bureau Of Justice Assistance

Authorization

Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance Act of 2000; Statue 2778; Public Law 106-559 Title II Indian Tribal Court, Sec. 201 (a) (25 USC 3681).

Program Number

16.608

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist tribal governments in the development, enhancement, and continuing operation of tribal judicial systems, including inter-tribal court systems.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

CATEGORY I: Planning and implementing an intertribal court system for smaller populations. CATEGORY II: Planning and implementing a single tribe court system. CATEGORY III: Enhancing or continuing the operation of the tribal courts.

The following tribes are subject to the above restriction on use of funds: (1) tribes in which fewer than 25 Native members live in the village year round; and (2) tribes that are located within the boundaries of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the Matanuska Susitna Borough, the Municipality of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the City and Borough of Juneau, the Sitka Borough, or the Ketchikan Borough.

Match is not required for personnel. However, if a position under this program is supported with BJA funds, total costs associated with salary and fringe benefits may not exceed 50 percent of the grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments are eligible to apply for and receive funds under this program. Tribes that received FY 2006 or FY 2007 funding are not eligible to apply for a FY 2008 grant.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Indian Tribal governments.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms (SF-424) as furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by the Common Rule, must be used for this program. Awards through this program will be competitive, based upon the extent and urgency of the need of each applicant. Applications must be submitted electronically at: http://www.grants.gov/. Applications or supplemental materials received by facsimile or postal mail will not be accepted.

Award Procedure

BJA reviews applications for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements. Upon approval by the Assistant Attorney General, OJP, award letters and award documents are sent to the grantee. One copy of the grant award must be signed by a duly authorized representative and returned to BJA.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Normally, 90 days after receipt of applications.

Appeals

See 28 CFR Part 18.

Renewals

Contingent upon congressional funding.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Up to 24 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: See program office for more information.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

In some cases, evaluation reports may be required. No cash reports are required. Progress reports are due semi-annually. Unless otherwise specified in the award's special conditions, financial reports are due quarterly. Performance Measures: To assist in fulfilling the Department's responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, applicants who receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measures the results of their work.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients of Federal funds are expected to retain documentation supporting all program transactions for at least 3 years after the closure of audit reports related to such funding. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all related issues, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Visit website for current updates. Tribal Court Assistance Program: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0404-0-1-754.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $7,815,640; FY 09 est $9,000,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

CATEGORY I: PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING AN INTERTRIBAL COURT SYSTEM FOR SMALLER POPULATIONS. Grant will not exceed $200,000. CATEGORY II: PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING A SINGLE-TRIBE COURT SYSTEM. Grant will not exceed $200,000. CATEGORY III: ENHANCING OR CONTINUING THE OPERATION OF TRIBAL COURTS: Grant range: $150,000 to $175,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Office of Justice Programs Financial Guide and Handbook 4500.2c, Policies and Procedure for the Administration of OJP Grants, are applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Eunice Pierre Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20531 Email: AskBJA@usdoj.gov Phone: 202-514-1473 or 1-866-859-2687

Web Site Address

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bja.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.