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Tribal Crime

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Tribal Crime and Justice was an interesting topic to research because this is something that one does not think about. One does not really hear about Native Americans in data or statistics, and if so, the percentage or numbers are relatively low or their Race is not even noted. This study was conducted to take a look into policing in Indian Nations to better comprehend their laws and to view a future cross deputization agreement between tribal policing and local, county, and state policing. This topic caught my attention because I notice that the reporting information can be misleading and the tribal police officers need to not only be involved in Indian Country but on non-reservation land too. Researchers must understand and into consideration …show more content…

With some exceptions, if there is a serious crime committed on tribal land, the US Attorney along with the Federal Bureau of Investigations take over jurisdiction. According to Wakenling, Jorgensen, Michaelson, and Begay, only crimes committed in Indian Country, on trust land, fall under the jurisdiction of tribes, for tribal jurisdiction, the alleged offender must be an American Indian, as a result of the Major Crimes Act of 1885 (18 U.S.C.A. §1153) and the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (25 U.S.C.A. §1302(7)), tribes have jurisdiction only over less serious crimes. Most serious crimes including: murder, manslaughter, arson, burglary, and robbery, fall under the jurisdiction of Federal authorities (2001). However, there have been times that Indian Country the tribal police will make a charge less serious just that the tribal community can keep the criminal in their criminal justice system instead of the Federal system. Most tribal communities, be that as it may, want to oversee their own particular tribal police, however frequently don't have enough budgetary assets or group trust to help current policing techniques and …show more content…

However, in Indian Country crime seems to be increasing but very little is being reported. According to Mills and Brown, cross deputization tribal police with local, county or state law enforcement agencies, is seen as a means to better facilitate apprehension of criminal offenders who travel from one jurisdiction to another in an attempt to elude capture (2001). This is a great start in improving policing in Indian Country. Local police officers can enter into the reservation and make arrests as to tribal police officers can also make arrests on non reservation land. The cross deputization of both tribal and local police is a necessity for Indian reservations, especially those which include both tribal and nontribal lands. The disadvantage is that only tribes that have their own police force can enter the deputization agreement. These types of reservations are known as “checkerboards”, because according to Mills, when a crime is reported in this area, members of all relevant policing agencies often arrive at the scene to determine with whom investigative jurisdiction

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