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Tribal Law and Order Act

“Since the passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 we are making progress in ensuring that Tribes are able to access law enforcement databases, which is critical to meeting public safety needs. We have expanded funding and training opportunities, established more productive protocols based on our government-to-government relationship with the Tribes, and have sought to be more clearly accountable for our efforts…The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 has been good for Indian Country and good for those of us working to ensure justice in Indian country.”

--R. Trent Shores, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma and Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, in Testimony before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Oct. 25, 2017

 

 

President Obama signed the Tribal Law and Order Act into law on July 29, 2010.  The Tribal Law and Order Act helps to address crime in tribal communities and places a strong emphasis on decreasing violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women. The Act encourages the hiring of more law enforcement officers for Indian lands and provides additional tools to address critical public safety needs. Specifically, the law enhances tribes' authority to prosecute and punish criminals; expands efforts to recruit, train and keep Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal police officers; and provides BIA and Tribal police officers with greater access to criminal information sharing databases. It authorizes new guidelines for handling sexual assault and domestic violence crimes, from training for law enforcement and court officers, to boosting conviction rates through better evidence collection, to providing better and more comprehensive services to victims. It also encourages development of more effective prevention programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse among at-risk youth.

The Tribal Law & Order Act helps to address crime in tribal communities and places a strong emphasis on decreasing violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women. The Act encourages the hiring of more law enforcement officers for Indian lands and provides additional tools to address critical public safety needs. Specifically, the law enhances tribes' authority to prosecute and punish criminals; expands efforts to recruit, train and keep Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal police officers; and provides BIA and Tribal police officers with greater access to criminal information sharing databases. It authorizes new guidelines for handling sexual assault and domestic violence crimes, from training for law enforcement and court officers, to boosting conviction rates through better evidence collection, to providing better and more comprehensive services to victims. It also encourages development of more effective prevention programs to combat alcohol and drug abuse among at-risk youth.

Below are links to the text of the Tribal Law and Order Act; documents to enhance understanding of its provisions; and some of the reports and action items which have been created in accord with provisions and directives in the Act.

U.S. Department of Justice Indian Country Investigations and Prosecutions Report (PDF)

2021 | 20202019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2011-12

Corrected Data in the Indian Country Investigations and Prosecutions Reports for 2011-12, 2013, and 2014 (PDF)

U.S. Department of Justice Report on Enhanced Tribal-Court Sentencing Authority (PDF)

Enhanced Sentencing in Tribal Courts: Lessons Learned From Tribes (PDF)

Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Memorandum of Agreement, August 2011 (PDF)

The Tribal Law and Order Act Plan Long Term Plan to Build and Enhance Tribal Justice Systems, August 2011 (PDF)

Full Text of the Tribal Law and Order Act (PDF)

United States Attorney Tribal Law and Order Act Directives (PDF)

Bureau of Prisons Implements Key Provision of Tribal Law and Order Act with Pilot Program to Incarcerate Tribal Prisoners in Federal Prisons

COPS Office Report to Congress, January 2011 (PDF)

BJS Compendium of Tribal Crime Data, June 2011 (PDF)


 

Updated August 4, 2023