The Criminal Law Reform and Planning Task Force was established by Executive Order 2023-05-CTH and charged with evaluating the Cherokee Nation’s criminal justice system to ensure it is effective, efficient, and meeting pivotal objectives relating to rehabilitating Cherokee citizens convicted of criminal offenses.

With support from Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner and the Council of the Cherokee Nation, the tribe began expanding its justice system operations and staffing following the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court McGirt v. Oklahoma and the 2021 state-level Hogner v. Oklahoma decisions, which reaffirmed the tribe’s reservation status and criminal justice responsibilities over criminal cases involving Native Americans within the reservation boundaries.

The Task Force engaged internal and external subject matter experts for feedback on the tribe’s justice system. In this report, the Task Force provides recommendations focusing on innovative approaches to sentencing and re-entry and a roadmap for future policy changes and resource investments.