25 U.S.C. § 3651 : US Code - Section 3651: Findings

Search 25 U.S.C. § 3651 : US Code - Section 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.