12/19/05 -- At the invitation of Judge Geraldine Benally, Kayenta Judicial District, Navajo Nation, the NCJFCJ presented a one-day workshop on Dec. 5, 2005 in Window Rock, AZ. More than 130 judges, court personnel, treatment providers, and tribal legislators from Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and other tribes came together to hear about the NCJFCJ’s recently published Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines and the Annie E. Casey Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. The workshop was held at the Navajo Museum in Window Rock, a beautiful facility with excellent technical support from the museum staff.

With Judge Benally’s assistance, the program was tailored to fit the interests of the tribal courts. After beginning the day with an invocation in Navajo, Chief Justice of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court Herb Yazzie, provided a powerful message in his opening remarks about the importance of caring for children.

Zuni Tribal Judge Albert Banteah, Lead Judge of the NCJFCJ Model Court in Zuni, NM, introduced the NCJFCJ and talked about the benefits the Zuni Court has received from its relationship with the National Council. Judge Paul Tsosie, Santa Clara Pueblo, briefly described the newly released Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines. Pamela Towers, JDAI Coordinator for Clark County, NV, and Carl Sanniti, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Juvenile Services, discussed the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative. Navajo psychologist Kalvin White, Ph.D., spoke about the need to collect data on Navajo youth to help develop a culturally accurate risk assessment. The participants split into small discussion groups by discipline, with consultant Kimo Souza facilitating the discussion on information received and needs for future training and/or technical support.

The NCJFCJ is grateful to Judge Benally, Lavonne Yazzie, Kayenta Court Administrator, and Efeleina Yazzie, Court Clerk and our training liaison, for their outstanding effort in making this training a success.

For more information on the workshop, please contact Ian Curley at 775-784-6895 or icurley@ncjfcj.org.

Read more about these issues at the following websites:
NCJFCJ's efforts pertaining to tribal issues
Annie E. Casey Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative
NCJFCJ’s Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines