The nansemond indian nation is a federally recognized tribe located in suffolk, virginia

The Nansemond Indian Nation, a federally recognized tribe in Suffolk, Virginia, received a $149,060 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs Victims of Crime (CFDA 16.841 - VOCA Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program). This funding will support the Tribe's strategic planning efforts to develop and implement a constitutionally required judicial branch of government and a comprehensive tribal justice system. The strategic plan will address public safety and community wellness concerns, including substance abuse, domestic violence, trespassing, theft, and vandalism, that are negatively impacting tribal members. The strategic planning represents a critical first step towards establishing a new, carefully planned, and implemented justice system to meet the Tribe's constitutional requirements and address the needs of its members. The grant project period runs from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2028.

With this funding, the tribes leadership will work with the DOJ-provided technical training assistance provider to create a strategic plan for developing and implementing our constitutionally required judicial branch of government as well as a comprehensive tribal justice system to provide maximum services for our tribal members. The tribes recently adopted 2022 constitution (the tribe only received federal recognition in 2018) calls for a judicial branch in parallel with the executive and legislative, but we have not implemented this to date beyond the minimum requirements. A full judicial branch, including courts and law enforcement, as well as other aspects, is anticipated by the constitution, but the details are left to the legislature to prepare over time. In addition, we do not currently have any justice system functions in place to respond to and address the very significant public safety and community wellness concerns including substance abuse, domestic violence, trespassing, theft and vandalism, and more that are negatively impacting the lives of tribal members. A new, carefully planned and implemented comprehensive tribal justice system will meet our constitutional judicial branch requirements and help our nation address the needs of its members and usher in a new ERA of improved safety and wellness for our tribal community. Strategic planning represents the critical first step on this path.