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
ARTICLE 9. REFERRAL TO WELLNESS BOARD If the Tribal Court Judge finds that the Child/Disabled Adult/Elder is a victim of Abuse, then the Child/Disabled Adult/Elder may be referred to the Tribe’s Wellness Board for creation of a wellness plan.
SECTION 11.2. OTHER REMEDIES The Tribal Court may also order the individual [convicted of abuse to child/disabled adult/elder]; to perform community service, to receive counseling or behavioral health services, to participate with the Wellness Board, to have restricted access to…
Section 13.04 (A) Referral for Treatment In place of, or in addition to, a fine, the Tribal Court may refer a Defendant to mental health providers induding an alcohol/substance abuse program, and/or social services program for counseling and/or treatment. (B)…
Section 13.01 General Penalty Provisions A person committing a violation under this Ordinance will be subject to a fine in an amount not to exceed the maximum provided in the judgment schedule adopted by the Tribal Council in effect on…
Sec. 11-24 F. – Disposition alternatives. The Court may make one (1) or more of the following orders for disposition for the juvenile’s supervision, care and rehabilitation: 1.Permit the juvenile to remain with his or her parent, guardian or custodian,…
Sec. 6-142. – Additional penalties or conditions; costs assessed against per capita payments; maximum sentence. A.In addition to any other sentence, the court may order an offender to do the following:1.To pay restitution to the victim of the offense;2.To pay…
Sec. 11-24 A. – Purpose and conduct of disposition hearing:. The Court shall conduct the disposition hearing to determine appropriate treatment and consequences for the juvenile after the juvenile has been adjudicated. The public shall be excluded from the proceedings.…
Sec. 11-56. – Notice of Truancy and Fines. A.Whenever the Truancy Officer finds or observes a child outside of school during regular schools hours or information comes to the Truancy Officer from a school or other source that a child…
5.405. Diversionary Prosecution. A. Except where prohibited by this title, a judge shall have the discretion in sentenci ng a defendant charged with a misdemeanor offense to accept a defendant’s plea of guilt and defer entering the plea into the…
§ 1660. Available relief A. In any proceeding in which a petition for a protection order is filed, once the petitioner has met the burden of proof, the Court shall grant any relief necessary to prevent further abuse. Available relief…