The mescalero apache tribe (the tribe) is a federally recognized indian tribe with its reservation located in the south-central portion of the state of new mexico

The Mescalero Apache Tribe was awarded a $892,682 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.596 - Tribal Justice Assistance Program) to create and operate a Mescalero Apache Peacemaker Court as part of the tribe's judicial system. The grant funding will support the planning, development, and implementation of the tribal peacemaker court, which will use culturally-appropriate, non-adversarial dispute resolution methods to address underlying issues and reduce recidivism within the Mescalero Apache community. Key activities include revising the tribal code, coordinating services with other tribal programs, and establishing the operational peacemaker court to hear and resolve cases through a restorative healing process. The 5-year project period runs from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2028.

The tribe proposes to create and operate a mescalero apache peacemaker court as part of its judicial system, with the mescalero reservation comprising the jurisdiction and service area for that court. The proposed peacemaker court will work to remedy this failure and reduce recidivism by providing non-adversarial dispute resolution through apache culture, language, beliefs, and values. The tribe would use ctas funding to develop the planning and implementation of the tribal peacemakers court, which would include developing a framework for the cooperation and coordination of services with other tribal programs, departments, and agencies. The tribe would also research, review, and revise the tribal code to provide for the establishment of the tribal peacemakers court and incorporate the use of more tribal customs and traditions in place of existing sentencing guidelines. Finally, the tribe would implement the peacemaker court program and actively hear cases with the intent of resolving underlying issues that create the problem or offense, as well as work through a restorative healing process with the individual parties, families, and the community.