Violent Crime Soars In Indian Country

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In a troubling trend, violent crime is escalating at an alarming rate in Indian Country, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and fearful for their lives. U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons has been sounding the alarm on this issue, attending the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues (NAIS) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he heard firsthand the devastating impact of crime on tribal communities.

Parsons, who was appointed to the NAIS by Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this year, moderated a panel on Law Enforcement Resources in Indian Country, where he emphasized the need for increased cooperation and coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat the rise in crime.

The NAIS visit included remarks from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker and Cherokee Nation Attorney General Todd Hembree, who highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of crime in Indian Country, including poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and the opioid epidemic.

Troy Morley, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal Liaison for the District of South Dakota, participated in a panel discussion on Cooperative Law Enforcement Models in Indian Country, where he discussed the need for tribes to have more control over law enforcement on their reservations.

In response to the growing crime crisis, Attorney General Sessions has pledged to increase funding for tribal communities, announcing a $110 million program to provide assistance to crime victims in tribal communities. The FY 2018 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program can be used to provide a wide range of victims’ services, including counseling, medical care, and financial assistance.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and law enforcement components are responsible for investigations, prosecutions, and victim services in the 49 judicial districts across the nation that include Indian country. Federal prosecutors have primary criminal jurisdiction for 70 million acres of Indian lands, which spans across about 200 Indian country territories.

The Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Native American Issues is a key component of the Attorney General’s efforts to address crime in Indian Country. The subcommittee is made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, as well as representatives from tribal governments, who come together to discuss specific crime reduction strategies and best practices.

In the District of South Dakota, two new prosecutor positions have been added, one in Rapid City and one in Pierre, to focus on violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country. In addition, the District of South Dakota is hosting an Indian Country Fellow from the DOJ Honors program, who will devote three years to prosecuting crime both in federal court and in Tribal Court on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The expansion of the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which provides federally recognized tribes with the ability to access and exchange data with the national crime information databases for both civil and criminal purposes, is also a critical step forward in addressing crime in Indian Country. Through TAP, tribes may enter information directly into federal databases, which has already resulted in the entry of nearly 600 sex offender registrations and over 550 sex offender check-ins, as well as nearly 300 instances of data entry that would prohibit someone from being able to purchase a firearm.

While the situation in Indian Country is grim, there is hope for change. With increased funding, cooperation, and coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, tribal communities can begin to feel safer and more secure. As U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons has said, ‘We must work together to address the root causes of crime in Indian Country and provide support to victims who have been devastated by the drug trade and the opioid epidemic.’

In related news, the NAIS meeting also discussed the expansion of the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which provides federally recognized tribes with the ability to access and exchange data with the national crime information databases for both civil and criminal purposes.

The District of South Dakota is hosting an Indian Country Fellow from the DOJ Honors program, who will devote three years to prosecuting crime both in federal court and in Tribal Court on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

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