The National Indian Justice
Center, Inc., (NIJC) is an Indian owned and operated
non-profit corporation with principal offices in Santa Rosa,
California. NIJC was established in 1983 through the
collective efforts of the National American Indian Court
Judges Association, the American Indian Lawyer Training
Program, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in order to
establish an independent national resource for Native
communities and tribal government. The goals of NIJC are to
design and deliver legal education, research, and technical
assistance programs which seek to improve the quality of
life for Native communities and the administration of
justice in Indian country.
For more than 20 years,
NIJC has designed and conducted effective education programs via
regional trainings, on-site training and conferences for tribal
courts, tribal government, law enforcement, social services,
medical personnel, victims assistance programs and other
interests throughout Indian country. Some of the programs
include alcohol and substance abuse, alternative methods of
dispute resolution, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence,
Indian youth and family law, juvenile justice, and federal
Indian law.
We are not only the pioneers of
providing technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal
organizations and government agencies, but we have established
ourselves as the true leaders in providing training sessions,
on-site consultations, and publication services throughout
Indian country.
Thank you for taking
the time to browse through our website to learn about the
services that NIJC may be able to provide for you. The services
described herein may be provided through a contractual
arrangement between NIJC and your tribe or organization.
|
STAFF
Joseph A. Myers,
Executive
Director (Pomo)
Jerry Burroni,
Education
Consultant
Raquelle Myers,
Staff Attorney (Pomo)
Nicole Myers-Lim,
Staff Attorney (Pomo)
David
Lim,
Staff Attorney
Carol Oliva, Development Specialist
Sabrina Rawson, Training Coordinator (Blackfoot)
Lisa Williams, Administrative
Assistant
Amber Volkmuth, Administrative Assistant
Ciaran Vejby, Multimedia Specialist |
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Hon. William Johnson,
President (Umatilla)
Hon. William T. Thorne,
Jr., Vice-President (Pomo)
Hon. John St. Clair,
Chief Judge (Shoshone)
Hon. Gary LaRance,
Chief Judge (Hopi)
Larry Echohawk,
Professor of Law (Pawnee)
Ted Quasula, Chief of
Police (Hualapai)
Anita Jackson, Chief
Judge (Wasco/Warm Springs)
Hon. Michael Petoskey, Chief Judge
(Potawatomi)
Hon. William Rhodes, Governor (Gila River) |
SERVICES
NIJC has been in business since
1983, which establishes us as the true pioneer in
providing services and training for tribal personnel. The staff
and consultants of NIJC possess extensive skills and experience
and a sound reputation for providing training and technical
services to Indian tribes and their court systems. The services
offered by NIJC are performed by Indian and non-Indian
professionals who are accomplished and have a demonstrated
commitment to Indian people and to the improvement of their
tribal governmental institutions. With sound national and local
presence, NIJC staff and consultants have worked to develop
tribal justice, political and social services infrastructures in
tribal communities throughout the country.
NIJC Staff and Consultants are constantly
involved in ongoing research regarding issues in Indian country
in order to ensure that NIJC provides the most current, updated,
and relevant training.
EDUCATION
PROGRAMS
NIJC has designed and conducted numerous education programs for
tribal courts, tribal governments, law enforcement, social
services, medical personnel, victims assistance programs and
others throughout Indian country since 1983, including:
Advanced Criminal Law
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Alternative Methods of Dispute
Resolution
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Sexual Abuse
Civil Law and Procedure in
Indian Country
Rez Violence
Indian Civil Rights Act
Indian Housing Law
Juvenile Justice Systems
Rez "Meth Crisis" (issues and answers)
Tribal Court Management
Tribal Court Probation
Tribal Government Executives
Management Course
and many more!!!
For a detailed list of courses and
materials, please go to the NIJC
Training Schedule
or
Publications, or contact
NIJC
directly.
PUBLICATION
SERVICES
NIJC offers for sale many of the written
training materials employed in our educational programs. For
further information go to the
NIJC publications list.
COURT
EVALUATION SERVICES
To improve the quality of
judicial services, tribal court systems should be reviewed
periodically to determine the strengths and weaknesses of
operations and procedures. This may be accomplished by
conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the entire system or the
evaluation can focus upon specific areas of concern.
The staff of NIJC is experienced
in evaluating the management practices of tribal courts. If you
use NIJC's services in this area, we will examine your court
system on-site and brief your court staff of our findings at the
end of the site visit. Within five weeks of the site-visit,
NIJC will submit to you a detailed report of these findings,
including both short and long-term recommendations.
Additionally, upon request NIJC will prepare for your court an
operations and procedures manual tailored to your court and
personnel with follow-up training to implement the manual or
make operational changes.
CODE
DRAFTING AND REVISION SERVICES
In the past many tribal justice
programs have suffered from defective code drafting and code
revision. At NIJC, we believe that code drafting and revision
must be made with an understanding of the special needs and
legal requirements of each Indian jurisdiction. Indian tribes
face problems that do not exist off-reservation. In addition,
residual sovereignty permits them to provide unique solutions to
the maintenance of law and order in Indian country.
The staff and consultants of NIJC have
extensive experience in code development and practical
experience in the day-to-day operation of tribal court systems.
For example, NIJC has developed a model juvenile justice code
and a tribal child/family protection code. For further
information concerning these and other model codes, please
contact
NIJC.
RESOURCE
SERVICES
The skills and experience of
NIJC staff offer a vast resource to tribes and Indian
organizations. Legal research, along with commentaries or
opinions on specific issues, can be provided on the
administration of justice in Indian country. NIJC also provides
tribal governments with specialized consulting services in the
broad categories of education, technical assistance and
training. NIJC does not offer representation in the prosecution
or defense of criminal cases or civil litigation.
NIJC welcomes inquiries by
tribes or Indian organizations concerning particular projects or
problems.