Exploring Tribal Court Systems

Tribal courts are created for communities to resolve disputes, correct behavior, help people heal and restore balance in the community. Learning about the types of tribal courts can help court personnel have a better understanding of how certain types of courts can meet the needs of the people they serve. This session offers court personnel a brief overview of modern tribal courts, describes the importance of having vision and mission statements, examines a variety of types of tribal courts and discusses court decision-making bodies of authority.

Objectives

• Give a brief overview of modern tribal courts
• Describe the importance of having court vision and mission statements
• Examine common types of tribal courts
• Discuss court decision-making bodies of authority