U.S. Department Of Justice Announces Montana Indian Tribes Awarded Public Safety Grants

United States Attorney Michael Cotter announced today the U.S. Department of Justice awarded public safety grants to two Montana Indian tribes totaling almost $1.8 million.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes have been granted $721,266. Another Montana tribe, the Chippewa Cree Tribe, has been granted $1,094,574.

We're increasing our efforts to support tribal communities and to build and sustain tribal justice systems," stated U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter.

U.S. Attorney Cotter attended a meeting of Attorney General Eric Holder's Native American Issues Subcommittee in Celilo Village, Oregon, where the grants were announced. The Justice Department awarded 192 grants to 110 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia, and tribal designated non-profits. The grants will provide more than $90 million to enhance law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention efforts.

The grant to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes was awarded from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program overseen by the Office of Justice Programs. Tribes were encouraged to apply for funds to enhance tribal justice systems and support alcohol and substance abuse programs.

The Chippewa Cree tribe received a Public Safety and Community Policing (COPS) grant, a strategic planning grant, and a Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program grant targeted to help decrease the incidence of violent crime against Indian women and to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes committed against Indian women are held accountable.

Violence against native women continues at alarming rates and children in Indian country encounter violence far too often," said U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter.