Alaska Tribal Justice Resource Center

Providing Training and Technical Assistance to Alaska Tribal Justice Systems

Juvenile Justice

The goals of juvenile justice are to maintain public safety by promoting skill development, rehabilitation, addressing treatment needs, and successful reintegration of Alaska Native youth into the community. Tribes may play a key role in juvenile justice through partnerships with state and federal agencies, and, by handing juvenile cases in tribal courts. Juvenile cases may get there by directly citing cases into tribal court or by diverting cases from the Division of Juvenile Justice.

Partners in Juvenile Justice

Supporting Alaska Juveniles

Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice

Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

DJJ is tasked with meeting national and state standards and goals regarding juveniles with in the justice system. Many of these programs are administered as grants that are utilized by local organizations.

Alaska Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (AJJAC)
Juvenile Justice And Delinquency Prevention Act
Reduction of Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC)
Interstate Compact for Juveniles

Juvenile Justice Resources

Diverting Tribal Youth

Working with DJJ: 2016

The State of Alaska’s Division of Juvenile Justice is prepared to work with tribes to keep at-risk youth supported in the village and out of the detention system. DJJ officials will discuss during this webinar their community diversion agreement with tribes for supporting rural youth, along with how to initiate the agreement process. The Tribal Government in Fort Yukon will discuss their experience of pursuing a diversion agreement and working with DJJ, and its impacts with local youth.

DJJ Agreement Template

Revised: June 2019

Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Juvenile Justice and [Name of Tribe]…

Association of Alaska School Boards

About AASB

The mission of the Association of Alaska School Boards is to advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance.

Transforming Schools

A Framework for Trauma Engaged Practice in Alaska

As Alaskans we are resilient and on the cutting edge of transforming schools together by supporting the whole student and integrating trauma-engaged practices. New understanding into the impact childhood trauma has on learning and behavior empower schools to provide affected students what they need to succeed and to help break rather than inadvertently perpetuate the cycle of trauma.

Trauma-engaged Practice

Planning and Coordination of Schoolwide Efforts

Trauma-engaged practice is most effective with the steady support of the entire school community. Crafting a plan that allows school staff, families and key partners to be part of the transformation process can help generate buy-in and develop consistent language and practices throughout the school and community.

School-To-Prison Pipeline

Discipline and the School-To-Prison Pipeline (2016)

Addressing Truancy: Reporting Suspensions, Expulsions, and Unexcused Absences

The school-to-prison pipeline disproportionately places students of color, including those who identify as LGBTQ, have disabilities, and/or are English Language Learners, into the criminal justice system for minor school infractions and disciplinary matters, subjecting them to harsher punishments than their white peers for the same behaviors. The school-to-prison pipeline diminishes their educational opportunities and life trajectories. All educators – which includes every school employee – are key to ending the school-to-prison pipeline.

Are Native Youth Being Pushed into Prison?

Cradle to Prison Pipeline Alaska

Trauma-engaged Practice

Planning and Coordination of Schoolwide Efforts

Between certain ages, you have a right to an education and an obligation to attend school. At school, you have rights under the constitutional principles that guarantee due process and prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures. But your rights must be balanced against the school’s need for an orderly place for learning.

More information about school attendance, your rights at school, privacy and searches, and discipline.

How do I know what my rights and responsibilities are?
Do I have the right to free speech in school?
Do I have the right to bring a firearm or deadly weapon to school?
Can I get in trouble for posting bad things about teachers or students on social media like Facebook?

Tribal Court Clearinghouse

American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) Children Exposed to Violence

A Project of Tribal Law and Policy Institute

This page provides an overview of resources related to issues of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children exposed to violence. Primarily, this page provides information concerning the work of the Task Force on American Indian and Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence which was part of the Defending Childhood Initiative undertaken under the leadership of then Attorney General, Eric Holder Jr..

Defending Childhood Initiative

A Project of Tribal Law and Policy Institute

The Defending Childhood Initiative began in 2010 and focused on addressing the exposure of American children to violence as both victims and witnesses. Studies done before the Initiative uncovered how children’s exposure to violence is associated with long-term physical, psychological, and emotional harm, putting those children at higher risk of engaging in criminal behavior and becoming part of a cycle of violence.

Report on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence

November 2014: Ending Violence so Children Can Thrive

November 2014: This report was created as part of the Defending Childhood Initiative created by attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. This initiative strives to harness resources from across the Department of Justice to…:

Alaska Tribal Justice Resource Center

Training & Technical Assistance Support

731 East 8th Avenue Anchorage, AK 99501

This is a RurAL CAP affiliated program.

For more information, visit www.ruralcap.org

Dena’inaq ełnen’aq’ gheshtnu ch’q’u yeshdu: I live and work on the land of the Dena’ina people

This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-IC-BX-K004 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes: The Bureau of Justice Statistics, The National Institute of Justice, The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, The Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office.

Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.