[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 25, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 25CFR63.3]

[Page 224-226]
 
                            TITLE 25--INDIANS
 
     CHAPTER I--BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 63_INDIAN CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION--Table 
of Contents
 
               Subpart A_Purpose, Policy, and Definitions
 
Sec. 63.3  Definitions.

    Bureau means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the 
Interior;
    Child means an individual who is not married, and has not attained 
18 years of age.
    Child abuse includes but is not limited to any case in which a child 
is dead, or exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, 
failure to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, or 
soft tissue swelling, and this condition is not justifiably explained or 
may not be the product of an accidental occurrence;

[[Page 225]]

and any case in which a child is subjected to sexual assault, sexual 
molestation, sexual exploitation, sexual contact, or prostitution.
    Child neglect includes but is not limited to, negligent treatment or 
maltreatment of a child by a person, including a person responsible for 
the child's welfare, under circumstances which indicate that the child's 
health or welfare is harmed or threatened.
    Crimes against persons are defined by local law. Adjudicating 
officers must contact local law enforcement agencies to determine if the 
crime for which an applicant or employee was found guilty (or entered a 
plea of nolo contendere or guilty) is defined as a crime against 
persons.
    Family violence means any act, or threatened act, of violence, 
including any forceful detention of an individual, which results, or 
threatens to result, in physical or mental injury, and is committed by 
an individual against another individual to whom such person is, or was, 
related by blood or marriage or otherwise legally related, or with whom 
such person is, or was, residing, or with whom such person has, or had, 
intimate or continuous social contact and household access.
    Indian means any individual who is a member of an Indian tribe.
    Indian child means any unmarried person who is under age eighteen 
and is either a member of an Indian tribe or eligible for membership in 
an Indian tribe and is the biological child of a member of an Indian 
tribe.
    Indian country means:
    (1) All land within the limits of any Indian reservation under the 
jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding the 
issuance of any patent, and, including rights-of-way running through the 
reservation;
    (2) All dependent Indian communities within the borders of the 
United States whether within the original or subsequently acquired 
territory thereof; and,
    (3) All Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not been 
extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same. Unless 
otherwise indicated, the term ``Indian country'' is used instead of 
``Indian reservation'' for consistency.
    Indian reservation means any Indian reservation, public domain 
Indian allotment, former Indian reservation in Oklahoma, or lands held 
by incorporated Native groups, regional corporations, or village 
corporations under the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
    Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other 
organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or 
regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) which 
is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
    Inter-tribal consortium means a partnership between an Indian tribe 
or tribal organization of an Indian tribe, and one or more Indian tribes 
or tribal organizations of one or more Indian tribes.
    Local child protective services agency is an agency of the Federal 
Government, state, or Indian tribe that has the primary responsibility 
for child protection on any Indian reservation, or within any community 
in Indian country.
    Local law enforcement agency is that Federal, tribal, or state law 
enforcement agency that has primary responsibility for the investigation 
of an instance of alleged child abuse within the involved Indian 
jurisdiction.
    Must is used in place of shall and indicates a mandatory or 
imperative act or requirement.
    Person responsible for a child's welfare is any person who has legal 
or other recognized duty for the care and safety of a child, and may 
include any employee or volunteer of a children's residential facility, 
and any person providing out-of-home care, education, or services to 
children.
    Related assistance means the counseling and self-help services for 
abusers, victims, and dependents in family violence situations; 
referrals for appropriate health-care services (including alcohol and 
drug abuse treatment); and may include food, clothing, child care, 
transportation, and emergency services

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for victims of family violence and their dependents.
    Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
    Service means the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health 
and Human Services.
    Shelter means the temporary refuge and related assistance in 
compliance with applicable Federal and tribal laws and regulations 
governing the provision, on a regular basis, of shelter, safe homes, 
meals, and related assistance to victims of family violence or their 
dependents.
    Tribal organization means the recognized governing body of any 
Indian tribe; any legally established organization of Indians which is 
controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is 
democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to 
be served by such organization and which includes the maximum 
participation of Indians in all phases of its activities: Provided, That 
in any case where a contract is let, a grant is awarded, or funding 
agreement is made to an organization to perform services benefitting 
more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each such Indian tribe must 
be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract, grant, or 
funding agreement.