Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Five Year Report
The National Congress of American Indians has released a 5 year report on the implementation of VAWA's Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction.. Excerpt from the executive summary: VAWA 2013’s limited reaffirmation of inherent tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians, known as Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ), has fundamentally changed the landscape of tribal criminal jurisdiction in the modern era. By exercising SDVCJ, many communities have increased safety and justice for victims who had previously seen little of either. SDVCJ has allowed tribes to “respond to long-time abusers who previously had evaded justice" and has given a ray of hope to victims and communities that safety can be restored.