Timothy Q. Purdon, Federal Crime, North Dakota 2014

Crime Spree in Indian Country

Crime has long plagued Indian Country, with high rates of violence against women and other heinous crimes. But one man is leading the charge to bring justice to these communities. Meet Timothy Q. Purdon, United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota and Chair of the Attorney General’s Native American Issues Subcommittee.

Purdon spoke before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in February 2014, touting the Department's efforts to improve public safety in Indian Country. Since 2009, the Department has made fighting crime in Indian Country a top priority, with a strategy consisting of law enforcement action, prosecution, grant funding, training, technical support, and collaboration with tribal partners.

The results are promising. The Department's renewed commitment to the vigorous prosecution of federal crimes in Indian Country has increased the number of Indian Country prosecutions by United States Attorney’s Offices nationwide by more than fifty percent over the past four years.

But Purdon acknowledged that more needs to be done. The Department recognizes that an increase in federal arrests and prosecutions alone cannot solve all the public safety challenges on the reservations. That’s why they have augmented their enhanced focus on law enforcement and prosecutions with additional support for tribal criminal justice institutions.

Through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), the Department has awarded nearly $440 million in federal grants to tribes in the past four years. These funds work to directly strengthen the criminal justice system in Indian Country, creating opportunities for increased collaboration with our tribal partners and increased tribal self-determination.

As the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota, Purdon is committed to bringing justice to Indian Country. With his leadership, the Department is taking crucial steps to address the public safety challenges facing tribal communities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/statement-timothy-q-purdon-united-states-attorney-district-north-dakota-department-justice