Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the Pueblos of Laguna and Jemez have been awarded federal grants through the U.S. Department of Justice to support tribal justice programs in their communities.

“These grants will help protect residents of Laguna and Jemez pueblos by both supporting the efforts of law enforcement and strengthening their judicial systems,” Bingaman said.

The Pueblo of Laguna was awarded a $1 million grant through DOJ’s Correctional Systems and Correctional Alternatives on Tribal Lands Programs, which will be used to support efforts related to renovating or constructing a single jurisdiction Tribal correctional facility and multipurpose justice center (including police departments, courts, and corrections).

An additional $483,833 grant will make it possible for Laguna Pueblo to create and fill the position of Chief Court Clerk of the Pueblo Court, to create and fill the position of Wellness Court coordinator, and to hire contract attorneys to handle the existing public defender conflict of interest cases and to handle court appearances when the full-time public defender is unavailable for court.

The Pueblo of Jemez was also awarded two grants.  The first provides $375,241 to strengthen the pueblo’s use of indigenous justice methods to handles cases involving alcohol or substance abuse related crime, particularly among veterans.  The pueblos will also use a $75,000 grant to develop a strategic plan to identify needs facing the pueblo’s justice system.