The National Center on Restorative Justice’s (NCORJ) Tribal Restorative Justice Laws Database was created as a resource for restorative justice advocates, practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers—both for tribes and throughout other jurisdictions in the United States. Our aim is to organize and display in an easily navigated format the ways in which tribes have codified the use of restorative justice approaches. This database expands upon NCORJ’s Restorative Justice Laws Database, which lists state restorative justice laws.
The expansion of the Restorative Justice Laws Database to include tribal laws was a natural one. Contemporary restorative justice has roots in Indigenous cultures and practices, both in the United States and globally, and tribes continue to be leaders in restorative justice practice and systems today. This Tribal Restorative Justice Laws Database shows the many codified restorative justice practices that exist in tribal law and is, to our knowledge, the first time this data has been collected and presented in a public and easily accessible format.
Thank you to Grace Carson for her leadership and expertise in the creation of this database. Thank you also to the research assistants who helped on this project: Kylie Belt, Anna VanRoy, and Jonathan Eagle.
The NCORJ is committed to continuing to update this database. This database was last updated in January 2026. If you see something that is missing or a correction is required, please be in touch. For more information about the development of the database, to get assistance navigating it, or to request a copy of the raw data for research purposes, please contact Lindsey Pointer (lpointer@vermontlaw.edu).
NOTES REGARDING THE TRIBAL CODES AND TRIBES INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE
Tribal Code Accessibility
Many tribes’ legal codes are not included in this database due to the fact that those tribes do not have their code published and/or do not wish to share their code with the public. The codes in this database should not be considered the only tribal restorative justice laws to exist.
Tribes Included
The tribes included in the Tribal Restorative Justice Laws Database are those who are federally recognized. Federally recognized tribes are those that are formally acknowledged by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the federal government. As such, these tribes have recognized tribal sovereignty. With recognized tribal sovereignty comes the right to tax, make and enforce laws, and regulate activities. Important for this database, federal recognition comes with established tribal criminal jurisdiction (though, this jurisdiction is dependent on where the tribe is located, among other factors). Tribes that are not federally recognized (i.e., are only state recognized) lack the ability to exercise the same rights and powers that tribes whose sovereignty is formally acknowledged by the federal government, and as such, lack tribal criminal jurisdiction (though, tribes that are not federally recognized may be able to establish restorative justice practices and efforts through other means, such as through social services, grant funded projects, and intergovernmental agreements with the state). Because of this, we decided to limit the tribes included in this database to those that are federally recognized. We acknowledge that the recognition process for tribes is a product of settler colonialism, and purposefully exclusionary. We do not view tribes that are not federally recognized as any less valid than those that are.
Additional Information
Section 14.6 Penalties (F) In place of or in addition to the penalty described in (E), the Court, in its discretion, may impose an alternative sentence which addresses the violation in a manner consistent with tribal and cultural values. Such…
4-13-1. Findings of Jurisdictional Facts – Disposition of Case. When a child is found to come within the provisions of Section 4-3-1 of this Code, the Court shall so adjudicate, and make findings of the facts upon which it bases…
§13-3-15. Suspension of Sentence and Probation. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Code, the Court shall have the authority to suspend the imposition of sentence on a p~rson who has been convicted of an offense and place him on…
6.20.140 Predispositional report. After a fact-finding hearing at which the Court has found the youth to be in need of care: A. The youth caseworker shall prepare a written report describing all reasonable and appropriate alternative dispositions. B. The report…
4.80.040 Criminal penalties. Criminal penalties should be guided by the seriousness of the offense. The following factors may be considered: Special Court provisions for domestic violence or family violence crimes. […] B. In sentencing for a crime of domestic or…
4.80.045 Judgments and convictions. When entering a judgment upon conviction for a crime involving domestic violence, family violence, or stalking, the Court shall: A. Consider the entry of orders for the protection of the victim, including those set out within…
Section 33.02.08 Juvenile Tribal Court Proceedings. F. Predisposition Report. 1. The Presenting Officer, after consulting the Youth Counselor, shall prepare a written report describing all reasonable and appropriate alternative dispositions. The report shall contain a specific plan for the rehabilitation…
Section 33.01.07 Indian Child Welfare Committee Meetings […] E. Family Preservation Plan. The purpose of the Family Preservation Plan is to resolve the problems within the family that may cause or have caused a child to be determined to be…
5.11.20. Disposition Alternatives. If the Court finds that a child is a “child in need of care,” the Court may make and record any of the following orders of disposition, giving due weight to the need to preserve the unity…
3-7-35 Disposition Options a. Pursuant to the provisions of RSTLOC 3-7-33, the Children’s Court may enter written orders including any of the following, as best suited to the needs of the Wakanyeja and the Wakanyeja parent, guardian or custodian: 1.…