Calls for Congress to fund law enforcement on tribal land

A joint resolution heard in committee Tuesday in Montana seeks to press Congress and the federal government to fully fund public safety and law enforcement agencies, and services on reservations in Montana as one tribe says its funding has barely increased in 25 years.

In addition to pushing Congress for full funding, the resolution, SJ5, calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to work with tribes to figure out how to best fund their law enforcement, courts, detention facilities, people who need attorneys, victims and juvenile services, rehab and reentry programs and crime prevention programs.

“It is a reality that tribal law enforcement, public safety and judicial systems are greatly underfunded in Indian Country,” said Patrick Yawakie, testifying in favor of the measure on behalf of the Blackfeet Reservation.

https://ictnews.org/news/calls-for-congress-to-fund-law-enforcement-on-tribal-land