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Tribal Reimbursement Program Fact Sheet

Tribal Reimbursement Program

OVW's Tribal Reimbursement Program reimburses eligible Tribes for expenses incurred in exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) over non-Indians who commit covered crimes – domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, assault of Tribal justice personnel, child violence, obstruction of justice, sex trafficking, and protection order violations – within the Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries. Tribes not yet exercising STCJ are eligible to apply for grant funding under OVW's Tribal Jurisdiction Program instead of reimbursement. 

Examples of Reimbursable Expenses

  • Prosecution
  • Court
  • Indirect costs
  • Victim services
  • Offender treatment
  • Law enforcement
  • Defense counsel
  • Community supervision
  • Incarceration
  • Detainee medical and dental 

Reimbursement Program Structure

Step 1: OVW posts a notice of reimbursement opportunity with deadlines to apply for reimbursement.

Step 2: OVW makes initial allocations to eligible Tribes. Each eligible Tribe may be allocated the same amount not to exceed the previous year's expenses for that Tribe.

Step 3: Tribes submit their summaries of actual expenses for the calendar year and request reimbursement for remaining expenses, if they had expenses beyond their initial allocation. 

Eligible Applicants

Governments of Tribal entities that are recognized by and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs by virtue of their status as Indian Tribes may apply, if they exercise STCJ over at least one of the covered crimes during the calendar year eligible for reimbursement. Tribes that exercise STCJ over any covered crime(s) - but are in the planning phase to exercise STCJ over additional covered crime(s) - are eligible for reimbursement for exercising expenses but not for planning costs. 

Apply for Funding

Updated September 17, 2026