The pueblo of isleta is a federally recognized tribe located in central new mexico

The Pueblo of Isleta, a federally recognized Native American tribe in New Mexico, received a $900,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Tribal Justice Assistance Program (CFDA 16.596). The funding will be used over a 5-year period from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2029 to address key justice system needs, including:

• Purchasing a comprehensive case management system and laptops for the prosecutor's office and public defender's office to improve technological efficiencies
• Purchasing a vehicle to expand the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction
• Hiring an additional public defender to provide conflict counsel
• Expanding drug and alcohol testing services provided by the probation office
• Purchasing personal safety equipment and scanning equipment for the court building to improve physical safety

These investments will strengthen the Pueblo of Isleta's tribal justice system capacity by enhancing public safety, improving access to services, and addressing critical infrastructure needs within the tribal court and affiliated entities.

The pueblo of isleta tribal court and its affiliated entities have identified several key tribal justice concerns that they will address using with this funding, including technological inefficiencies; projected caseload increases; inadequate access to public defender services; rising levels of need for alcohol and drug testing; and physical safety gaps for court staff and attendees. The funding will be used for the following series of necessary updates: purchasing a comprehensive case management system for the prosecutor's office and the public defender's office, purchasing laptops for use by tribal prosecutors and public defenders, purchasing a vehicle to facilitate the expansion of the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction, hiring an additional public defender to provide conflict counsel, expanding the drug and alcohol testing services provided by the probation office, and purchasing critical personal safety equipment and scanning equipment for the court building. These updates will benefit the entire tribal justice system in the pueblo of isleta. The prosecutors and public defenders office will have the necessary technology to provide well-researched and conflict-free counsel to all clients. The prosecutor's office, anticipating a doubling of their caseload, will have accessible transportation and technology to facilitate the increase in their work. The public defender's office will provide counsel to an expanded number of tribal members with an in-house conflict counsel. The probation office will receive critical investment in drug and alcohol testing apparatuses. Everyone walking into the court building will experience heightened safety outcomes with standard venue screening materials. The tribal court and its affiliates will continue to provide service to tribal members during this process. This funding allows the pueblo of isleta tribal justice system to serve better and protect tribal members.