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Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program Fact Sheet

Tribal Reimbursement Program

OVW Tribal Affairs Division

The OVW Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program (Tribal Reimbursement Program) reimburses Tribes for expenses incurred while exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) over non-Indians who commit covered crimes – assault of Tribal justice personnel; child, dating, sexual, and/or domestic violence; obstruction of justice; sex trafficking; stalking; and protection order violations – within the Tribe's jurisdictional boundaries. 

Tribes participating in the Tribal Reimbursement Program are able to draw down for reimbursable expenses up to the amount of their initial allocation in the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. If a Tribe's expenses exceed their initial allocation, it can seek a waiver for additional funds at the end of the year.

Examples of reimbursement

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

Estimated timeline/reimbursement program structure

  • Fall/Winter: OVW posts a "Notice of Reimbursement Opportunity" with a deadline to opt into the program.
  • Winter: OVW makes initial allocations to eligible Tribes. Each Tribe may be allocated the same amount not to exceed the previous year's expenses for that Tribe.
  • End of calendar year: Tribes submit their summary of eligible expenses for calendar year 2025 and request funds for their remaining expenses if there are expenses beyond the initial allocation. 

Eligible applicants

OVW will accept applications from Indian Tribes that are exercising Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction. All applicants must exercise STCJ over at least one of the covered crimes, but exercising STCJ over all covered crimes is not required. 

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Updated March 18, 2025