Erin Shanley, Domestic Violence, South Dakota 2013

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Tribal Prosecutor Takes Office to Combat Sex Crimes on the Standing Rock Reservation

PIERRE, S.D. – A historic agreement between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and federal authorities has led to the appointment of a new prosecutor to tackle violence against women cases on the reservation. Erin Shanley, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, was sworn in as Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on March 4, 2013.

Shanley, who started her duties on January 14, 2013, is headquartered at the Standing Rock Tribal Court, Office of the Prosecutor, in Fort Yates, North Dakota. The appointment is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the United States Attorneys’ Offices in the District of South Dakota and the District of North Dakota on July 10, 2012.

The MOU, a historic agreement between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and federal authorities, authorized the hiring of a Tribal SAUSA to prosecute violence against women cases in federal and tribal courts. Funding for the new position comes from a grant from the Justice Department’s Office on Violence against Women.

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson, a past Chairman of the Justice Department’s Native American Issues Subcommittee, spearheaded the initiative and wrote the proposal for the creation of the position. Johnson has made the prosecution of cases involving violence against women a top priority during his tenure as U.S. Attorney.

Shanley will handle the prosecution of cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking committed within the boundaries of the SRST. She will have authority to pursue those cases in federal court in both South Dakota and North Dakota, as well as in Standing Rock Tribal Court.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Johnson emphasized the importance of addressing violence against women on the reservation. ‘This historic agreement is a major step forward in addressing the unique jurisdictional issues on the Standing Rock Reservation and ensuring that those who commit violence against women are held accountable,’ Johnson said.

Shanley brings extensive experience to the position, having previously served as Assistant Prosecutor for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Arizona. Her appointment is seen as a significant development in the ongoing effort to combat sex crimes on the Standing Rock Reservation.

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