Tribe: Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation
5-1-101. Purpose. The Tribe recognizes that its strength and sovereignty is grounded in its members and that a prosperous future requires a safe and healthy community. Violence and criminal activity are serious behaviors impacting the Southern Ute Tribal community’s health, safety, and welfare. This Code is intended to provide for the safety and protection of the community, while ensuring offenders are held accountable yet provided an appropriate opportunity for rehabilitation. The Tribe further recognizes the criminal justice system and punitive responses may not always best address criminalized behaviors, such as substance abuse and addiction. Although federal law continues to criminalize drug use and possession, including marijuana, it is important to the Tribe that Indians be treated equally as non-Indians under applicable state law. To that end, when enforcing this Criminal Code, the Tribe will strive to provide a range of alternatives to criminal prosecution and conviction, including but not limited to the possibility of deferred prosecution, treatment, and diversion programs.
Read Full Text of SUITC Title 5 § 5-1-101