Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-73not60
§1305 Tribal Jurisdiction in Alaska
Title 25 › Chapter 15— CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF INDIANS › Subchapter I— GENERALLY › § 1305
Summary
Congress recognizes that tribes living in Alaska Villages have the right to run their own courts and law enforcement for Indians who are in those Villages, as allowed by the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. Tribal courts can issue and enforce civil protection orders and use tools like civil contempt, excluding violators from the Village, and other enforcement methods. Tribes that join a pilot program can also exercise special tribal criminal jurisdiction over covered crimes that happen in their Village for any person there. That criminal power is shared with the United States or the State (it is concurrent). A participating Tribe may not use that special criminal power for a covered crime when neither the defendant nor the alleged victim is an Indian, except for obstruction of justice or assault of tribal justice staff. In protection-order cases, “victim” means the person named in the protection order. Tribes must give defendants the rights listed in section 204(d) of the Indian Civil Rights Act. The Attorney General will run a pilot program that may add up to 5 tribes per calendar year to participate, starting with requests made during the 1-year period beginning March 15, 2022, and each year after. The Attorney General will pick tribes using rules that give preference to Villages that are mostly Indian and have no permanent State law enforcement presence, and must find that the tribe’s justice system protects defendants’ rights. Up to 30 tribes may be chosen unless the Attorney General gives Congress and the public 180 days’ written notice before adding more. Tribes may join together and count as one selection. If a tribal court gives more than 1 year of jail time, the court can require the sentence to be served in a BIA-approved tribal long-term center, in a nearby federal facility at U.S. expense under the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program, or in a state/local approved facility at tribal expense and possibly reimbursed by the Attorney General; tribes may also use other punishments under tribal law. The Attorney General and Secretary of the Interior can make agreements with tribes and the State to share resources, training, cross-deputize, and arrange incarceration and prosecutions. An Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee must be set up by March 15, 2022, and a report to Congress on the pilot’s results is due within 5 years after March 15, 2022. Nothing in the subtitle changes or removes other Federal, State, or tribal criminal or civil jurisdiction.
Full Legal Text
Title 25, §1305
Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Subject to title II of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”), Congress recognizes and affirms the inherent authority of any Indian tribe occupying a Village in the State to exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction over all Indians present in the Village.
(b)(1)A court of any Indian tribe in the State shall have full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders involving any person in matters—
(A)arising within the Village of the Indian tribe; or
(B)otherwise within the authority of the Indian tribe.
(2)The full civil jurisdiction to issue and enforce protection orders under paragraph (1) includes the authority to enforce protection orders through—
(A)civil contempt proceedings;
(B)exclusion of violators from the Village of the Indian tribe; and
(C)other appropriate mechanisms.
(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in addition to all powers of self-government recognized and affirmed under subsection (a), the powers of self-government of a participating Tribe include the inherent power of the participating Tribe, which is hereby recognized and affirmed, to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over a defendant for a covered crime that occurs in the Village of the participating Tribe.
(2)The exercise of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction by a participating Tribe shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of the United States, the State, or both.
(3)(A)A participating Tribe may not exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction over an alleged offense of a covered crime, other than obstruction of justice or assault of Tribal justice personnel, if neither the defendant nor the alleged victim is an Indian.
(B)In this paragraph and with respect to a criminal proceeding in which a participating Tribe exercises special Tribal criminal jurisdiction based on a violation of a protection order, the term “victim” means a person specifically protected by the protection order that the defendant allegedly violated.
(d)(1)Subject to title II of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”), there is established a pilot program under which the Attorney General, subject to paragraph (5), shall designate not more than 5 Indian tribes per calendar year as participating Tribes to exercise the special Tribal criminal jurisdiction described in paragraph (6) over all persons present in the Village of the Indian tribe.
(2)At any time during the 1-year period beginning on March 15, 2022, and annually thereafter, an Indian tribe may request the Attorney General to designate the Indian tribe as a participating Tribe under paragraph (1).
(3)(A)The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and affected Indian tribes, shall establish a process to designate Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program, which process shall—
(i)require that preference shall be given to Indian tribes occupying Villages—
(I)the populations of which are predominantly Indian; and
(II)that lack a permanent State law enforcement physical presence;
(ii)require that for each Indian tribe requesting to be designated as a participating Tribe, the Attorney General makes a determination that the criminal justice system of the Indian tribe has adequate safeguards in place to protect defendants’ rights, consistent with section 204(d) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1304(d)) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”); and
(iii)be subject to such other criteria as the Attorney General considers to be appropriate to achieve the purposes of this subtitle.
(B)The Attorney General shall designate Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program under paragraph (1) using the process established under subparagraph (A).
(4)(A)2 or more participating Tribes (or the Tribal organization (as defined in section 5304 of this title) of the participating Tribe, if the Tribal organization is exercising delegated authority from the participating Tribe)—
(i)may elect to participate jointly in the pilot program by providing shared resources to carry out the purposes of the pilot program; and
(ii)on making an election pursuant to clause (i), shall be considered to be a single participating Tribe for purposes of the maximum number of participating Tribes under paragraphs (1) and (5).
(B)(i)Additional participating Tribes may elect to join an established intertribal partnership under subparagraph (A) at any time after the intertribal partnership is established.
(ii)An intertribal partnership that additional participating Tribes elect to join pursuant to clause (i) shall be considered to be a single participating Tribe for purposes of the maximum number of participating Tribes under paragraphs (1) and (5).
(5)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Attorney General may designate not more than 30 Indian tribes to participate in the pilot program.
(B)The limitation under subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the Attorney General submits to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and publishes in the Federal Register, a written notice of the intention to designate additional Indian tribes as participating Tribes, including the rationale for the designation, by not later than the date that is 180 days before the date of designation.
(6)Congress recognizes and affirms that an Indian tribe selected to participate in the pilot program as a participating Tribe may exercise, subject to paragraph (7), special Tribal criminal jurisdiction with respect to covered crimes.
(7)In exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction under the pilot program, a participating Tribe shall provide to each defendant all rights described in section 204(d) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1304(d)) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”).
(e)In a criminal proceeding in which an Indian court of a participating Tribe, in exercising special Tribal criminal jurisdiction with respect to a covered crime, imposes a sentence of imprisonment of more than 1 year on a defendant pursuant to section 202(b) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1302(b)) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”), the Indian court may require the defendant—
(1)to serve a sentence—
(A)in a Tribal correctional center that has been approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for long-term incarceration, in accordance with guidelines set by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(B)at the expense of the United States, in the nearest appropriate Federal facility pursuant to the Bureau of Prisons Tribal Prisoner Program established under section 1302a(c)(1) of this title; or
(C)at the expense of the participating Tribe and, subject to section 204(f)(1) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1304(f)(1)) (commonly known as the “Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968”), reimbursable by the Attorney General, in a detention or correctional center approved by the State or a local government of the State pursuant to a memorandum of agreement between the participating Tribe and the State or local government of the State; or
(2)to serve another alternative form of punishment, as determined by the Indian court pursuant to Tribal law.
(f)The Attorney General and the Secretary of the Interior may enter into such memoranda of agreement with participating Tribes and the State as are necessary and appropriate—
(1)to coordinate respective law enforcement activities;
(2)to share equipment and other resources;
(3)to establish cross-deputization arrangements;
(4)to coordinate appropriate training activities; and
(5)to address any other matters that will facilitate the successful implementation of the pilot program, including intergovernmental agreements regarding—
(A)the incarceration of convicted persons; and
(B)cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
(g)(1)Not later than 1 year March 15, 2022, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, affected Indian tribes, and the State, shall establish a committee, to be known as the “Alaska Tribal Public Safety Advisory Committee” (referred to in this subsection as the “Committee”).
(2)The Committee shall consist of 1 or more representatives from—
(A)participating Tribes and Indian tribes aspiring to participate in the pilot program;
(B)Federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement; and
(C)Tribal nonprofit organizations providing victim services.
(3)The Committee shall focus on—
(A)improving the justice systems, crime prevention, and victim services of Indian tribes and the State; and
(B)increasing coordination and communication among Federal, Tribal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(4)A member of the Committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Committee.
(5)The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 11 See References in Text note below. shall not apply to the Committee.
(6)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to remain available until expended.
(h)Not later than 5 years after March 15, 2022, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and affected Indian tribes, shall submit to Congress a report describing the results of the pilot program, including an explanation of any modifications to law necessary to facilitate improved law enforcement in Villages.
(i)Nothing in this subtitle—
(1)limits, alters, expands, or diminishes the civil or criminal jurisdiction of the United States, the State, any subdivision of the State, or any Indian tribe in the State;
(2)creates or eliminates any Federal or State criminal jurisdiction over a Village; or
(3)affects the authority of the United States or any authority delegated by the United States to the State to investigate and prosecute a criminal violation in a Village.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(1), is title II of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 77, which is classified generally to this subchapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1301 of this title and Tables. This subtitle, referred to in subsecs. (d)(3)(A)(iii) and (i), is subtitle B (§§ 811–813) of title VIII of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 904, which enacted this section and provisions set out as notes below. For complete classification of subtitle B to the Code, see Tables. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(5), is Pub. L. 92–463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, which was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 10 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 5 by Pub. L. 117–286, §§ 3(a), 7, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4197, 4361. For disposition of sections of the Act into chapter 10 of Title 5, see Disposition Table preceding section 101 of Title 5. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, and not as part of Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 which comprises this subchapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as a note under section 6851 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. Findings; Purposes Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title VIII, § 811, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 904, provided that: “(a) Findings.—Congress finds that—“(1) according to the report of the Indian Law and Order Commission established by section 15 of the Indian Law
Enforcement
Reform Act (25 U.S.C. 2812), Alaska Native women—“(A) are overrepresented in the domestic violence victim population by 250 percent; “(B) in the State of Alaska, comprise—“(i) 19 percent of the population of the State; but “(ii) 47 percent of reported rape victims in the State; and “(C) as compared to the populations of other Indian Tribes, suffer the highest rates of domestic and sexual violence; “(2) most Alaska Native villages are located in remote areas that—“(A) are often inaccessible by road; and “(B) have no local law
Enforcement
presence; “(3) the Commission referred to in paragraph (1)—“(A) determined that the Alaska Department of Public Safety—“(i) has primary responsibility for law
Enforcement
in rural Alaska; but “(ii) provides only 1 to 1.4 field officers per 1,000,000 acres; and “(B) recommended that ‘devolving authority to Alaska Native communities is essential for addressing local crime. Their governments are best positioned to effectively arrest, prosecute, and punish, and they should have the authority to do so-or to work out voluntary agreements with each other, and with local governments and the State on mutually beneficial terms’; and “(4) the unique legal relationship of the United States to Indian Tribes creates a Federal trust responsibility to assist Tribal governments in safeguarding the lives of Indian women. “(b) Purposes.—The purposes of this subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 811–813) of title VIII of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 904, which enacted this section and provisions set out as a note below] are—“(1) to increase coordination and communication among Federal, State, Tribal, and local law
Enforcement
agencies; and “(2) to empower Indian Tribes to effectively respond to cases of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and missing or murdered Alaska Natives through the exercise of special Tribal criminal jurisdiction.” [For definitions of terms used in section 811 of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out above, see section 12291 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law
Enforcement
, as made applicable by section 2(b) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, which is set out as a note under section 12291 of Title 34]. Definitions For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 12291 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law
Enforcement
, as made applicable by section 2(b) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, which is set out as a note under section 12291 of Title 34. Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title VIII, § 812, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 905, provided that: “In this subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 811–813) of title VIII of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 904, which enacted this section and provisions set out as a note above]: “(1) Assault of tribal justice personnel; covered crime; obstruction of justice; protection order; violation of a protection order.—“(A) In general.—The terms ‘assault of Tribal justice personnel’, ‘covered crime’, ‘obstruction of justice’, ‘protection order’, and ‘violation of a protection order’ have the meanings given the terms in section 204(a) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1304(a)) (commonly known as the ‘Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968’). “(B) Application.—For purposes of the application of the definitions of ‘assault of Tribal justice personnel’, ‘obstruction of justice’, and ‘violation of a protection order’, and for purposes of the application of the defined terms contained in the definition of ‘covered crime’, under section 204(a) of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1304(a)) (commonly known as the ‘Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968’) to the pilot program, the Attorney General shall modify any reference to ‘Indian country’ to mean the Village of a participating Tribe. “(2) Indian; Indian court; Indian tribe; powers of self-government.—The terms ‘Indian’, ‘Indian court’, ‘Indian tribe’, and ‘powers of self-government’ have the meanings given the terms in section 201 of Public Law 90–284 (25 U.S.C. 1301) (commonly known as the ‘Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968’). “(3) Participating tribe.— The term ‘participating Tribe’ means an Indian tribe that is designated under section 813(d)(1) [25 U.S.C. 1305(d)(1)] as a participating Tribe to exercise special Tribal criminal jurisdiction. “(4) Pilot program.—The term ‘pilot program’ means the pilot program established by section 813(d)(1). “(5) Special tribal criminal jurisdiction.—The term ‘special Tribal criminal jurisdiction’ means the criminal jurisdiction that a participating Tribe may exercise under this subtitle but could not otherwise exercise. “(6) State.—The term ‘State’ means the State of Alaska. “(7) Village.—The term ‘Village’ means the Alaska Native Village Statistical Area covering all or any portion of a Native village (as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)), as depicted on the applicable Tribal Statistical Area Program Verification map of the Bureau of the Census.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
25 U.S.C. § 1305
Title 25 — Indians
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60