Tribal Pardons: A Comparative Survey

18 Pages Posted: 26 May 2021

Date Written: May 20, 2021

Abstract

This paper surveys American Indian tribal justice systems to assess whether collateral consequences attach to convictions and whether a pardon or expungement process exists to remove tribal convictions. Tribal criminal jurisdiction is often limited to lesser crimes and only those occurring on a reservation by members of the tribe; with exceptions, other cases are transferred to U.S. state or federal court. The framework of the tribal pardon power varies widely across jurisdictions: it may be exercised by a tribal executive, a tribal legislature or council, a specially appointed pardons board or committee, a vote of the tribal membership, or some combination of the above. Some jurisdictions instead have a traditional peacemaking, forgiveness, or reconciliation ritual process in lieu of a true pardon or expungement process. Many Indian tribes impose collateral consequences for convictions both in tribal court and in state or federal court. Most commonly, these consequences restrict tribal membership and rights, including the right to vote in tribal elections or hold tribal office, but they may extend to housing, gaming licenses, tribal employment, and other areas. Many tribal jurisdictions do not have a pardon or expungement process, despite having collateral consequences attach to convictions. Several tribal courts have considered whether their tribal constitutions create an implied pardon power where one is not specifically provided for in tribal law. As a normative matter, this paper takes the position that tribal jurisdictions should have a pardon or expungement process (or its equivalent in indigenous law) where collateral consequences attach to conviction.

Keywords: tribal pardons, indian law, tribal courts, expungements, clemency, pardon, indian reservations, native american law

Suggested Citation

Novak, Andrew, Tribal Pardons: A Comparative Survey (May 20, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3850435 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3850435

Andrew Novak (Contact Author)

George Mason University ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
127
Abstract Views
861
Rank
402,428
PlumX Metrics