Question: How does the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ tribal court system enable the prosecution of non-Indians for certain domestic violence crimes?
Answer: Under the Violence Against Women (VAWA) Act of 2013, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) grants jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indians for domestic violence crimes between intimate partners when the victim is a tribal member residing on trust property and the defendant is non-Indian. The EBCI is among the few tribes implementing this VAWA provision.
