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Tribal Corrections On-Line - by Native.law

Corrections programs in Indian country may be run either by a federally recognized Indian tribe or by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services.

Many federally recognized Indian tribes exercise their sovereign ability to govern their tribal lands by enacting criminal laws.  Tribal police, or federal police from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA OJS) Division of Law Enforcement, usually enforce these tribal laws.  Prosecution of misdemeanor offenses (punishable by no more than one year imprisonment) are usually handled in the local tribal court.  If a tribal court meets certain standards, it can also prosecute felony offenses.
 
If a criminal defendant is sentenced by the tribal court to a term of imprisonment, the sentence is served in the local tribal jail or detention facility.  Correctional facilities in Indian country are usually operated by the tribe.  If a tribe does not operate a correctional facility on its reservation, prisoners can be held by the BIA OJS Division of Corrections.
 
Pursuant to the Tribal Law & Order Act of 2010, the US Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has implemented a Tribal Prisoner Program.  Under certain circumstances (including tribal request), the BOP will accept tribally sentenced prisoners and hold them in federal custody.

This website is for tribal corrections officials, tribal leaders, and members of the public who would like to know more about detention centers and jails in Indian country.

This website is brought to you by Native.law and was last updated on May 19, 2020. The webmaster can be contacted at: ElkRiver1832@gmail.com .