"Although contrary to Native American culture, violence against tribal women is far higher than that of other U.S. women.

One in 3 Indian women will be raped in her lifetime, and 6 in 10 will be physically assaulted, the National Congress of American Indians reports.

So, in the Violence Against Women Act, tribes are seeking criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence within tribal boundaries. They also want sentencing limits lifted in tribal courts in these cases and a tribal division created within the Violence Against Women Office.

As sovereign nations, tribes have a complex maze of court systems. A woman in one tribe may be unable to pursue a case against a man in another tribe.

While that situation may be impossible to unravel, Congress should approve a national study on violence against Native American women to determine its magnitude, causes and possible solutions."

Get the Story:
Our Opinion: Renew, expand domestic violence bill (The Tucson Citizen 9/12)

Get the Bill:
S.1197: Violence Against Women Act of 2005

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