It’s been just over 2 years since Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act. In February of last year, three tribes participated in a pilot project to exercise the special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction (SDVCJ) portion of the law. Under SDVCJ, some tribes can prosecute Natives and non-Natives for domestic violence, dating violence or violation of some protection orders in Indian country. Tribes must meet certain requirements in order to assert jurisdiction but some are questioning if a non-Native can get a fair trial in tribal court. Join us as we discuss the outcomes of the pilot projects.

Guests:

Matthew Fletcher (Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians) — director of the Indigenous Law & Policy Center at Michigan State University

Deborah Parker (Tulalip Tribes) — Councilwoman for the Tulalip Tribes

Alfred Urbina (Pascua Yaqui) — Attorney General for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe