This press release arrived Wednesday from the Justice Department, an announcement of recovery funds for Washington tribes working to offer better protection for women.
SEATTLE – Following their tour of the Tulalip Reservation, Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden and Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli today announced that more than $5 million has been awarded to tribal communities in Washington. The Department of Justice awarded more than $2.16 million in Recovery Act funds to three Washington Tribal Governments by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and more than $3.3 million in FY2009 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants to 16 Washington tribal law enforcement agencies.
“The Department of Justice is well aware that Indian Country is struggling with complex law enforcement issues involving violent crime, violence against women and crimes against children, and that tribal communities are doing what they can with limited resources,” said Deputy Attorney General Ogden. “We stand here as partners in this fight and are pleased to demonstrate our commitment with these grants for tribal communities in the State of Washington.”
“Among the things that make me feel confident about this administration’s focus on Indian Country is that much of this money was specifically designated within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” said Associate Attorney General Perrelli. “These funds will have an immediate impact on the quality of services offered to survivors and their children by providing advocacy and support services for those who need to be kept safe in emergency situations, and for victims who choose to leave their abusive relationships.”
The Justice Department officials were in Seattle for the first of two working sessions with tribal leadership and law enforcement experts leading up to the Attorney General’s Tribal Nations Listening Conference, part of an ongoing Justice Department initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on tribal justice in Indian Country.
The grants will help combat violence against women in tribal communities and will support efforts by tribal police to reduce crime and disorder, and to enhance the services that they provide.
Recovery Act Violence Against Women Grants
The landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), signed into law by President Obama, provides the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women with $20.8 million for the Indian Tribal Governments Program to decrease the number of violent crimes committed against Indian women, help Indian tribes use their independent authority to respond to crimes of violence against Indian women and make sure that people who commit violent crimes against Indian women are held responsible for their actions. Today, the Department of Justice awarded more than $2.16 million in Recovery Act funds to three Washington Tribal Governments. The award period is 36 months:
The Tulalip Tribes of Washington has been awarded $899,999 to renovate a tribal facility for use as the Legacy of Healing Advocacy Center and Safe House. The funding will support the creation of five full-time jobs, including a manager who will oversee the program and four new Residential Aides. The tribe will also hire a contractor for building and security renovations and a consultant to work with staff to develop shelter program operating policies and procedures. The tribe will implement staff and volunteer training and community outreach and education, as well as provide ongoing education and support groups for Safe House and Transitional Housing clients.
The Squaxin Island Tribe will receive $633,968 through its Northwest Indian Treatment Center in Washington to increase the number and quality of wrap-around services provided to women who have experienced domestic violence. The tribe will hire a Domestic Violence Resource Coordinator for post-treatment case management, resource coordination and outreach, coordinating with WomenSpirit Coalition to provide training and transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
The Swinomish Indian Community, in Skagit County, will receive $633,703 to establish an educational assistance program and shelter/safe house for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The project will improve services available to help Indian women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, develop and enhance effective plans for the tribal government to reduce violent crimes against Indian women and keep them safe and strengthen tribal criminal justice system’s ability to get involved with stopping violence against Indian women.
FY2009 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) GrantsToday’s COPS grants were awarded under the Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP), which is administered by the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The grants can be used to hire new officers, purchase crime-fighting technology systems and basic law enforcement equipment and can also be used to procure training and technical assistance. Today, the Department awarded more than $3.3 million to 16 Washington tribal law enforcement agencies to support efforts by tribal police to reduce crime and disorder and to enhance the services that they provide.
A number of tribal police departments in Washington received specific funding to hire new officers, for a total of more than $1.3 million to hire 7 new officers:
Grant Recipients Grant Amount
Tulalip Tribes of Washington $423,170 (2 officers)Sauk-Suiattle Police Department $184,637 (1 officer)
Chehalis Tribal Police Department $170,342 (1 officer)
Spokane Tribe of Indians $198,213 (1 officer)
Nooksack Indian Tribe $185,826 (1 officer)
Port Gamble S’Klallam Indian Tribe $179,759 (1 officer)Ten tribal police departments also received more than $2 million for equipment and training:
Grant Recipients Grant Amount
Makah Tribal Council $193,430
Chehalis Tribal Police Department $183,870
Nisqually Indian Tribe $152,100
Suquamish Tribe $199,900
Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe Police Department $185,000
Snoqualmie Tribal Police Services $119,701
Skokomish Indian Nation $200,000
Squaxin Island Tribe $198,895
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe $172,300
Yakama Nation Police Department $400,000The grants announced today are part of a broader federal initiative to bolster the capacity of tribal law enforcement agencies. All federally recognized tribes with established police departments were eligible to apply for funding.
Jodi Rave
Steven Faircloth
Women need these grants desperately to find an independent life for themselves.