4.4: Tribal Nations

Increase engagement with tribal nations,

Other Information:

The Department takes its trust responsibility as the primary law enforcer in many Native American communities seriously and has launched an effort to significantly improve public safety in those communities. Violent crime in Indian Country is at unacceptable levels and has a devastating impact on the basic quality of life there. Many tribes experience rates of violent crime far higher than other Americans; indeed, some Native American women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average. Tribal law enforcement resources are typically scarce, a problem exacerbated by the geographic isolation and vast size of many reservations. Consultation, as that term is formally defined in Executive Order 13175, and collaboration are at the heart of the federal‐tribal relationship. Consistent with the Department’s approach to be more open and collaborative with Tribal Nations, the Attorney General convened a listening session attended by approximately 400 tribal leaders. DOJ is taking a number of steps to increase its engagement with these communities. First, the Department is developing a revised consultation plan pursuant to a directive from the President. Second, in January of 2010, the Deputy Attorney General directed every U.S. Attorney’s Office to engage annually, in coordination with its law enforcement partners, in consultation with the tribes in that district. Third, the Attorney General is forming a Tribal Nations Leadership Council that will serve as a forum for ongoing communication and collaboration with tribal governments. Fourth, a new federal‐tribal task force will develop strategies and provide guidance for federal and tribal prosecution of violent crime against women in tribal communities. These efforts – which are only examples – will form the basis for improving federal‐tribal cooperation in the coming years. Information about these efforts is available at TribalJusticeandSafety.gov.

Stakeholder(s):

• Tribal Nations


• Native Americans


• U.S. Attorney’s Offices

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

Content