Inter-Tribal Working Group (ITWG) Webinar and Discussion:

An update on the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program

 

Mondy April 21, 2025

9 AM Alaska DT/ 10 AM PDT/ 11 AM MDT/ Noon CDT/ 1 PM EDT

 

Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DhQmyrP3RGipue43LwC42A

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The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA) was signed into law on July 29, 2010. TLOA created a number of useful programs, including the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Pilot Program. The Pilot Program authorized BOP to accept, pay for, and house in BOP custody certain offenders convicted in Tribal court. The Pilot Program was authorized for four years, beginning November 26, 2010, and concluding November 26, 2014. BOP housed six offenders during the Pilot Program. As required by TLOA, at the end of the program, the Attorney General submitted a report to Congress describing the Pilot Program, and recommending that it be made permanent, thus remaining available as a resource for Tribes.

 

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) amended this statute, effective March 15, 2022. VAWA 2022 authorized a permanent BOP Tribal Prisoner Program (Permanent Program) which authorizes BOP to accept, pay for, and house in BOP custody certain offenders convicted in Tribal court. Tribes have been utilizing this Program under VAWA 2022. The Program is nearing capacity and Tribes may have questions regarding capacity and generally how the program operates.

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Speaker:

Timothy A. Rodrigues is a Deputy Chief in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Office of General Counsel. Mr. Rodrigues supervises the Washington, D.C. attorneys of the Legislative & Correctional Issues (LCI) Branch. His team advises decision-makers at BOP and the broader U.S. Department of Justice on correctional policy, legislation, and regulatory matters. Mr. Rodrigues spent the bulk of his agency career working on-site at federal detention centers, serving as liaison to the courts, defense bar, and U.S. Attorney’s Office. He is currently the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American Special Emphasis Program Manager at BOP’s Central Office.

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Inter-Tribal Working Group (ITWG) Webinar and Discussion:

"Adjudicating Major Crimes in Tribal Courts" with Fort Peck Tribes

 

Thursday May 1, 2025

11 AM Alaska DT/ Noon PDT/ 1 PM MDT/ 2 PM CDT/ 3 PM EDT

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Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-G9AFV0gQHioo9AI1iJFNQ#/registration 

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This webinar will highlight the experiences of Fort Peck Tribes who have adjudicated violent crimes cases in Tribal courts and will include, but not limited to discussions on case preparation, Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA) considerations, evidentiary concerns, jury considerations, and assignments of qualified judges. This webinar will be helpful to Tribes who are exercising or are interested in exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction.

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Speakers:

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Stacie FourStar

Chief Judge - Ft. Peck Tribal Court - Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes

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The Honorable Stacie FourStar is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes; of Lakota, Nakoda and Hidatsa decent. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of North Dakota School of Law, with a certificate of specialization in Indian Law. She has served as a prosecutor for the Fort Peck Tribes, an Associate Judge, and currently holds the office of Chief Judge for the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes since 2015.  

 

She presides over all cases of general jurisdiction. She serves as the judge for special tribal criminal jurisdiction under VAWA 2022, and for the Family Healing to Wellness Court (drug court). She also oversees the Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court, DUI Court and Truancy Court. She strives to utilize sentencing alternatives working toward rehabilitation, and to provide direct services from the Court. She strives to build and reinforce relationships with other tribal, state and federal entities while upholding the sovereignty of the Tribes.  

 

The Honorable Stacie FourStar is the President of the Northern Plains Tribal Judges Association and the Montana Wyoming Tribal Judges Association. She serves as a representative with the National American Indian Court Judges Association. She is appointed to the Access to Justice Commission under the Supreme Court of Montana. She is also appointed to the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person Review Commission and the Native American Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team under the Attorney General for the State of Montana. She is a recipient of Montana’s prestigious Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award for her work. She is certified as an instructor by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the National Judicial College.

 

Germaine Jackson

Court Operations Analyst - Ft. Peck Tribal Court - Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes

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Germaine Jackson serves as the Court Operations Analyst and Terminal Agency Coordinator Point of Contact for the Fort Peck Tribal Court. He is a combat veteran and graduated from Montana State University – Northern in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to going to college, he served as a Police Officer with the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice. Since 2020, Germaine assisted the Fort Peck Tribal court with the implementation of Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (VAWA 2022), and currently manages various criminal and non-criminal justice users for the Fort Peck Tribes Tribal Access Program.

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24th Intertribal Working Group (ITWG) Meeting (This conference is OVW approved)

Dates: May 20-21, 2024

Location: Firekeepers Hotel (Battle Creek, MI)

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Registration and event information: web.cvent.com/event/22fe3463-dd2c-4bf2-ac1d-a8c1512b3d37/summary

Download a draft agenda here: 

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The Intertribal Working Group (ITWG) is a voluntary group of Tribal representatives working collaboratively to address criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2013 and VAWA 2022.  The 24th ITWG meeting is planned for 2 full days: Tuesday May 20, 2025 to Wednesday, May 21, 2025. 

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General information: FOR YOUR AWARENESS – There is no registration fee for the ITWG meeting. OVW Tribal Jurisdiction Program grantees are encouraged to use their grant funds to support travel for their Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) team’s participation in the ITWG meeting. 

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USE OF GRANT FUNDS: OVW Tribal Jurisdiction Program grantees are encouraged to use their grant funds to support travel for their Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) team’s participation in the ITWG meeting.

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For any questions, please contact Chia Halpern Beetso at Chia@TLPI.org.

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