Alaska reaches criminal justice agreement with Anik Village tribe

The state has given a tribal government in western Alaska authority to hand down sentences for low-level offenders in its jurisdiction.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Saturday that the agreement between the state and the Anvik Village Tribe has been described as a model for other tribes to take more active roles in their communities' criminal justice matters.

Under last week's agreement, law enforcement is required to offer both tribal and nontribal members the option of diverting from the state's court system to the tribal court. The tribe also has a say in whether it wants to take up the case.

The crimes covered in the agreement include most low-level drug offenses, underage drinking and misdemeanor assault.

Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth called the agreement "a win-win for the state and the tribes."