Tribal Law Enforcement Gets DOJ Funding
As a part of his continued work with tribes in Montana to improve public safety, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., secured $3,573,360 in Department of Justice funding to support tribal law enforcement and keep communities safe.
“Keeping Montanans and our communities safe remain my top priority,” said Tester. “I’m proud to have worked with tribal leadership and my colleagues across the aisle to secure this funding so that Tribes in Montana will have the necessary tools to hold criminals accountable and help victims recover.”
Funding secured by Tester for tribes comes from four different Department of Justice Programs: The Crime Victim Fund Tribal Set-Aside Program, the Community Oriented Policing Program, Fiscal Year 2022 Coordinate Grant Program, and the FY22 Tribal Assistance Solicitation Competitive Grant Program.
CVF Tribal Set-Aside Grants can be used for any purpose directly related to serving victims of crime, and the Office for Victims of Crime encourages its Tribal partners to be creative and innovative in using the funds to provide culturally-relevant, linguistically-appropriate, victim-centered services. Recipients will use resources to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect Tribal community values and traditions.
CVF Tribal Set-Aside recipients include:
•$609,751 for the Crow Tribe
•$719,669 for the Blackfeet Tribe
•$504,456 for the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes
•$410,245 for the Chippewa Cree Tribe The Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes will also receive a $10,186 Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Grant, which will support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings.
The Fort Belknap Indian Community will receive a $739,501 FY22 Coordinate Grant, which will be used to improve victim services, and to help prevent Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons- related incidents and human trafficking instances.
The Chippewa Cree Tribe will receive a $450,000 Tribal Assistance Solicitation Fiscal year 2022 Competitive Grant, which will enhance their current efforts to improve the investigation, prosecution, and handling of cases of criminal child abuse and neglect on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.
The Crow Tribe will receive a $129,552 COPS Grant which will be used to develop a comprehensive Tribal justice system-wide strategic plan to build internal capacity and capability for an effective and sustainable community-driven public safety program.
