Yesterday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder ordered federal prosecutors in 33 states to increase their efforts to reduce violent crime on Indian reservations.
As reported in a New York Times article on the reforms, Native Americans are the victims of violent crime at more than twice the national rate; on some reservations, murder rates against women are 10 times greater than the national average.
In a memo, prosecutors in those districts that include “Indian Country” (44 out of 93) were instructed to meet and consult with tribes in their districts once a year; develop an operational plan addressing public safety in Indian Country; work closely with law enforcement to pay particular attention to violence against women in Indian Country.
The memo also stated that 47 new prosecutors and FBI personnel will be assigned to handle such crimes.
Good old government stepping in on the NDN's rights again. Like our tribal govt can't do it's job. They are chipping away at our freedoms and made to live in the obama socialist world. Are there any prisons on NDN rez'z in the states? Or do we get crammed into the white man's jails? Sure, we got our problems, but I for one feel we should be left to punish our on in our tribal ways.
ReplyDeleteIf the statistics are correct, then the reservation government IS NOT doing its job! I see it as enabling where I live; sticking your head in the sand and not doing anything is truly not a tribal way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the first comment, we don't need more federal involvement, we need more money to help fund our own police officers, jails, and court systems. If we have more and more feds on the reservations, more of our young men and women will end up in the federal penal system for petty crimes! We are not sticking our heads in the sand, if these small crimes were committed off reservations they would result in small fines or short jail times, but since we are on federal reservations many of our young people are going to federal prisons for petty crimes, federal prosecutors are going for full sentences, FBI agents aren't doing their jobs, BIA cops are understaffed and federal judges are racist. We are throwing our young people away and we want MORE feds on our reservations? PLEASE!!! We need to handle our own problems, or did we forget that we are SOVEREIGN?
ReplyDeleteWe are Sovereign, therefore we need to prosecute, rehabilitate and control all aspects on the reservation. All our young men are already in Federal Prisons. Unjustly serving 5x higher sentences than non-Indians! If Tribal Governments would stop lining their pockets provide employment with that money and start serving the people that elected them, we would all be living a better life.
ReplyDeleteI believe the article was in reference to violent crimes against women in Indian Country. I for one,FBI(Full Blooded Indian), have seen first hand the violence and death of native women in domestic violence cases. Our Indian/Tribal Police is not equiped to handle these serious cases. If these harsh crimes are committed all it takes is for the offender after they are arrested, sits in a Tribal jail, pays off the Tribal Prosecuter(Tribal member)under the table, time served and case closed. The offender is released and lives to committ the crime again. If you were born, raised and reside on the "Rez" this is an everyday occurence. So, I agree there should be more Law Enforcment to put all the murders, rapists, drug dealers and drunks who create manslughter and death to loved ones to be rightfully incarcerated. They should (offender) all be put away for a long period of time or forever. Too bad Federal Crimes committed on the "Rez" by Indians, do not warrant capital punishment.
ReplyDeleteI am getting tired of Sovereign this and Sovereign that. That can be a cause why these crimes aren't being prosecuted. The problems quell on the rez and if the leadership is turning blind eyes from the situations then Feds wouldn't have to intervene. I am glad they are stepping in - we will only see how long it lasts and which tribal leader will complain about their sovereignty first. it will be the trouble makers that complain first about their civil rights being violated. Leaders only think of votes and how to get or stay in power.
ReplyDeleteWhat exactly is a "petty" crime? Murder of a fellow tribal member? Here on the Yankton Sioux rez an Indian can kill another tribal member and no one talks so no one does the time for the crime. We got killers walkiing free today because no one wants to see their relative go to jail but what about the victims? For these "petty" crimes, there is always a victim. If we left justice up to ourselves no one would have to pay for their crime because their relatives would always cry for mercy and protect them. If a person is a criminal and dangerous to the community, they need to definitely be put away. Not all our Indian men are in prisons, only the ones who can't control themselves in some way and they probably need to be where they are.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing as equal justice on any Indian reservations because we do have a double standard. One for those who are inpower and their family members and those who does not have anyone in power to help them are the ones who really get to serve for many times for "petty" crimes. And even the leaders who commit serious crimes get off easy because they are in power, although they broke the law. The tribal police officers let them go because they are the ones who gives them their jobs. It is down right embrasssing. We have laws on the books but the Judges over look them and the offenses they commit because again the leaders are the ones that hire them qualified or not. Indian country is in real trouble, especially the gaming tribes because there is too much embezelment going on. Leaders get a chance to put their hands into the cookie jar far too often. They have no ethics. Do not know what National Indian Gaming does to inforce ethics.
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