Indian Country Law Enforcement Coordination and Outreach- National Roundtable Discussion on Sexual Assault in Indian Country.

AUSA/Tribal Liaison David Adams participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Office of Victims of Crimes (OVC), the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and Indian Health Services (IHS) to discuss sexual assault in Indian Country. Over the course of the past decade OVC, OVW, and IHS, have developed programming, policies, and other resources to aid tribal communities in enhancing their capacity to respond to incidents of sexual violence. While our collective knowledge of sexual violence and how it impacts American Indians and Alaska Natives across the lifespan has increased significantly in the last ten years, we recognize that there are still important lessons to be learned from individuals who have assisted victims of sexual assault and led efforts to investigate and prosecute these crimes.  A group of twenty tribal and federal professionals were selected to participate in the discussion. The goal in coordinating this event was to engage a multidisciplinary group of Indian Country professionals who have experience in responding to the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native adult victims of sexual assault in a facilitated discussion about how to develop a victim-centered, culturally appropriate response to sexual assault.