The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has been awarded a $650,000 Department of Justice grant to expand their victim services with additional trained staff for crisis counseling and referrals to trauma counseling.

The Muckleshoots were among a dozen tribes in the Western District of Washington who were awarded nearly $6 million in DOJ grants to improve their services for victims of crime, U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran announced Tuesday.

“These grant awards cover needs identified by the tribes themselves,” Moran said. “Whether it is providing emergency services for families in crisis, providing skilled interviewers for child abuse victims or providing a secure domestic violence shelter, each of these projects reflects the needs and culture of our tribal partners.”

“American Indian and Alaska Native communities face extensive public safety challenges, but through creative approaches that combine traditional methods with innovative solutions, they are demonstrating their determination to meet the needs of victims in their communities,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “These grants, part of historic levels of funding awarded by the Department of Justice to American Indian and Alaska Native communities, will provide significant resources to bring critical services to those who suffer the effects of crime and violence.”

Learn more at ojp.gov.