At midyear 2007, an estimated four in 10 inmates in Indian Country jails were confined for a violent offense, the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) announced Friday. Domestic violence (20 percent) accounted for the largest group of violent offenders, followed by simple or aggravated assault (13 percent) and rape or sexual assault (2 percent). Six percent of Indian country jail inmates were being held for unspecified violent offenses.
The percentage of Indian Country jail inmates held for drug offenses was unchanged from 2004 to 2007 (7 percent each year), and DWI/DUI offenses dropped from 14 percent in 2004 to 8 percent in 2007.
Eighty-three jails in Indian Country held an estimated 2,163 inmates at midyear 2007, up from 1,745 inmates held in 68 facilities at midyear 2004. The jail population increased an estimated 24 percent since 2004 when the last BJS Survey of Jails in Indian Country was conducted. The survey collects information from correctional facilities operated by tribal authorities in Indian Country or by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior. Read the more here.
An interesting article that indicates that violent crime is rising in Indian Country, however, there were no other statistics to use in comparison. And shame on the jails that are not even offering additional education to the inmates. What is there to help them improve themselves while incarcerated?
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