Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Publishes Regulation Governing Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program

The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) published a regulation governing the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program, a new program authorized under the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) to reimburse Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ over non-Native individuals who commit certain covered crimes on Tribal lands. VAWA 2013 included a historic provision recognizing Tribes’ authority to exercise STCJ over non-Indian offenders who committed domestic violence or dating violence or violated certain protection orders in Indian country. Last year’s VAWA reauthorization built on the success of VAWA 2013 by expanding the covered crimes under STCJ, enabling Tribes to hold accountable non-Native perpetrators of sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking, child violence, assault of Tribal justice personnel and obstruction of justice.