Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli has announced that more than $248 million is available for tribes to assist with addressing Indian country’s criminal justice needs.

The funds are part of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds managed by the Justice Department to assist tribal, state and local law enforcement, and for other criminal justice activities that help to prevent crime and improve the criminal and juvenile justice systems in the United States.

“The Department of Justice is conducting an active outreach effort to ensure tribes are aware of available funding,” Perrelli said.

“This funding is key to helping tribes respond to specific criminal justice needs. We are available to help clarify the application procedures, and we are committed to allocating these resources quickly so tribes can address correctional facility needs, protect women from violent crime and enhance their efforts to build safer tribal nations.”

Of the $248 million in stimulus funding available for tribes from the department, $225 million is available in grants for correctional facilities on tribal lands, $20.8 million for Indian tribal government grants, and $2.8 million for tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition grants.

Tribes are also eligible to apply for several Department of Justice Recovery Act competitive grant programs that are available to states, local governments and other entities depending on the eligibility requirements in the solicitations. Application, registration and deadline information is available on the department’s Web site.