Wednesday, September 24, 2025
9am AK/10am PT/11pm MT/12pm CT/1pm ET
The Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI), along with our training and technical assistance partners – the Tribal Judicial Institute (TJI), and the National American Indian Court Judges Association (NAICJA) present an upcoming webinar: Criminal Sentencing: Understanding the Parole Process and the Impact on Tribal Justice Systems
This webinar will highlight Tribal court sentencing provisions under the Indian Civil Rights Act including enhanced sentencing provisions. As Tribal courts implement enhanced sentencing authority and sentence individuals to longer terms of incarceration, post sentencing reviews and options become increasingly important. As Tribes explore options to support the release of individuals from jail, many Tribes are amending laws to incorporate sentence reduction provisions and others are implementing parole provisions. This webinar will provide information on what parole is, how it differs from probation and will also highlight intersections between parole boards, reentry planners and probation departments. Additional information will introduce participants to federal, state and Tribal parole procedures while providing specific examples of existing Tribal parole programs and laws.
Who Should Attend:
FY23 and FY24 Coordinated Tribal Assistance (CTAS) Purpose Area #3 Tribal Justice System Grantees and legal professionals, tribal judges, tribal court personnel, and anyone interested in learning more about parole in the judicial system.
Presenters:
Michelle Rivard Parks
Associate Director, Tribal Judicial Institute,
UND School of Law
Mrs. Parks is a licensed attorney with more than 20 years of experience practicing in the areas of tribal law and federal Indian law. Mrs. Parks is an appointed member of the North Dakota Supreme Court State and Tribal Court Committee and in January of 2011 was appointed by U.S. Attorney Eric Holder to serve on the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force. Mrs. Parks is a former tribal prosecutor and current tribal attorney for the Spirit Lake Nation. She is also a former special judge for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and current Chief Justice of the MHA Nation Supreme Court.
In the fall of 2003, Mrs. Parks joined the staff at UND School of Law as an Adjunct Professor and has since taught courses on Federal Indian Law, Tribal Economic Development and the Law, and Tribal Law. Additionally, Mrs. Parks serves as the Associate Director of the Tribal Judicial Institute where she provides training and technical assistance to tribal, state and federal justice system officials on issues relevant to tribal justice systems, tribal law and federal Indian law.
For assistance with registration or for more information, please email Mytia@TLPI.org. To view all of our previous webinars and materials, please visit: www.WalkingOnCommonGround.org/resources-tools/webinars
