§ 3651. — Findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC3651]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 38A--INDIAN TRIBAL JUSTICE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Sec. 3651. Findings
The Congress finds and declares that--
(1) there is a government-to-government relationship between the
United States and Indian tribes;
(2) Indian tribes are sovereign entities and are responsible for
exercising governmental authority over Indian lands;
(3) the rate of violent crime committed in Indian country is
approximately twice the rate of violent crime committed in the
United States as a whole;
(4) in any community, a high rate of violent crime is a major
obstacle to investment, job creation and economic growth;
(5) tribal justice systems are an essential part of tribal
governments and serve as important forums for ensuring the health
and safety and the political integrity of tribal governments;
(6) Congress and the Federal courts have repeatedly recognized
tribal justice systems as the most appropriate forums for the
adjudication of disputes affecting personal and property rights on
Native lands;
(7) enhancing tribal court systems and improving access to those
systems serves the dual Federal goals of tribal political self-
determination and economic self-sufficiency;
(8) there is both inadequate funding and an inadequate
coordinating mechanism to meet the technical and legal assistance
needs of tribal justice systems and this lack of adequate technical
and legal assistance funding impairs their operation;
(9) tribal court membership organizations have served a critical
role in providing training and technical assistance for development
and enhancement of tribal justice systems;
(10) Indian legal services programs, as funded partially through
the Legal Services Corporation, have an established record of
providing cost effective legal assistance to Indian people in tribal
court forums, and also contribute significantly to the development
of tribal courts and tribal jurisprudence; and
(11) the provision of adequate technical assistance to tribal
courts and legal assistance to both individuals and tribal courts is
an essential element in the development of strong tribal court
systems.
(Pub. L. 106-559, Sec. 2, Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2778.)
Short Title
Pub. L. 106-559, Sec. 1, Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2778, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 3621 of
this title and sections 1629e and 1629g of Title 43, Public Lands] may
be cited as the `Indian Tribal Justice Technical and Legal Assistance
Act of 2000'.''
