[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 16028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06917]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[Docket No. OTJ 110]


 Office of the Associate Attorney General; Pilot Project for 
Tribal Jurisdiction Over Crimes of Domestic Violence

AGENCY: Office of the Associate Attorney General, Justice.

ACTION: Announcement of successful applications for pilot project.

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SUMMARY: The Associate Attorney General, exercising authority delegated 
by the Attorney General, is granting the requests of two Indian tribes 
to be designated as participating tribes under section 204 of the 
Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, on an accelerated basis, 
under the voluntary pilot project described in section 908(b)(2) of the 
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.

DATES: This announcement is effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Tracy Toulou, Director, Office of Tribal Justice, 
Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 2310, 
Washington, DC 20530, email [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tracy Toulou, Director, Office of 
Tribal Justice, Department of Justice, at (202) 514-8812 (not a toll-
free number) or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 908(b)(2) of the Violence Against 
Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013) establishes a voluntary 
pilot project for Indian tribes that wish to commence exercising 
jurisdiction on an accelerated basis over certain crimes of domestic 
violence and dating violence and certain criminal violations of 
protection orders in Indian country. This announcement provides public 
notice that the Associate Attorney General, exercising authority 
delegated by the Attorney General, is granting the requests of two 
Indian tribes to be designated as participating tribes under section 
204 of the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, on an 
accelerated basis, under the voluntary pilot project described in 
section 908(b)(2) of VAWA 2013. The two tribes are (in alphabetical 
order):
     The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, and
     the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse 
Reservation.
    In deciding to grant the two tribes' requests, the Department of 
Justice followed the procedures described in the Department's final 
notice on the Pilot Project for Tribal Jurisdiction over Crimes of 
Domestic Violence, 78 FR 71645 (Nov. 29, 2013). The Department of 
Justice coordinated with the Department of the Interior, consulted with 
affected Indian tribes, and concluded that the criminal justice system 
of each of the three tribes has adequate safeguards in place to protect 
defendants' rights, consistent with 25 U.S.C. 1304.
    Prior to exercising SDVCJ, each of the two tribes will notify its 
community that the tribe will soon commence prosecuting ``special 
domestic violence criminal jurisdiction'' (SDVCJ) cases. That 
notification will include sending press releases to the print and 
electronic media outlets in the tribe's area.
    The Department of Justice will post on its Tribal Justice and 
Safety Web site (http://www.justice.gov/tribal/) each of the two 
tribes' Application Questionnaires and all the tribal laws, rules, and 
policies that were attached or linked to those Application 
Questionnaires. Once posted, these materials will serve as a resource 
for those tribes that may also wish to commence exercising SDVCJ in 
March 2015 or later.

    Dated: March 13, 2015.
Stuart Delery,
Acting Associate Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 2015-06917 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4410-A5-P