For Immediate Release
Dec. 16, 2019
Media Contact: Liz Gray
O: (918) 549-2453
C: (918) 758-8106
egray@muscogeenation.com
Muscogee (Creek) Nation hosts Inter-Tribal Working Group Meeting
ITWG provides forum to discuss Violence Against Women Act
TULSA, Oklahoma — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation hosted the Inter-Tribal Working Group Meeting (ITWG) addressing Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction (SDVCJ) Dec. 11-12 at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
ITWG was established after the 2013 Violence Against Women Act reauthorization to provide a forum to work together and network as tribes were implementing SDVCJ.
The group is a voluntary working group of designated tribal representatives who may exchange views, information and advice peer-to-peer, about how tribes may best implement SDVCJ, combat domestic violence, recognize victims’ rights and safety needs as well as safeguard defendants’ rights.
SDVCJ is a voluntary opt-in for tribes to exercise criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence, dating violence and criminal violations of protective orders against a Native person.
MCN is one of 25 different tribes involved in SDVCJ across the country and has been participating since the first meeting in 2013.
An executive order signed Nov. 26 by President Donald Trump established a task force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in order to enhance the operation of the criminal justice system and address legitimate concerns of Native communities regarding missing and murdered Indigenous people.
The executive order outlined its mission to conduct appropriate consultation with tribes, develop model protocols and procedures and improve law enforcement response along with improved sharing of data among various law enforcement agencies.
“The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is taking steps to develop a collaborative approach to the crisis of our missing and murdered Indigenous relatives by creating our own internal task force to develop and implement necessary protocols to coordinate and enhance the responses of Lighthorse police, Family Violence Prevention Program, Children and Family Services and Adult Protective Services,” MCN Family Violence Prevention Program Director Shawn Partridge said. “MCN continues to strengthen our collaborative responses to violence against Indigenous women and people, including domestic violence.”
During the ITWG meeting, representatives from the MCN District Court held a mock trial of a first appearance of a non-Indian offender as an opportunity to discuss the proceeding and variances in rules of criminal procedure.
Members of MCN FVPP participated in an interactive discussion about the challenges in domestic violence cases and how to identify and discuss strategies.
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