The Great Falls Tribune ran a series of articles on law enforcement on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana.

Residents and business owners say crime goes unpunished. The crime rate on the reservation is seven times the national average.

"What really gets me is that they caught these guys red-handed and nothing happens," Darrell Hall, whose home was recently burglarized, told the paper.

The tribe used to operate a law enforcement until the Bureau of Indian Affairs took over in 2003. At first, 35 officers patrolled the 1.5 million-acre reservation but now it's down to just five, although nine more are being trained to work there.

The FBI has three agents stationed in the area. "They have a heavy, heavy caseload because they have to handle all the major crime on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation," a spokesperson said.

The paper looked at the nearby Flathead Reservation, where the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes work with local authorities to address crime. The Blackfeet Nation is willing to consider an agreement but wants to protect its sovereignty, a council member said.

Elsewhere in Montana, the Crow Tribe has been frustrated with federal authorities and is considering a proposal to take over law enforcement on the reservation.

Get the Story:
Victims on reservation frustrated by inaction (The Great Falls Tribune 1/4)
Reservation burglary suspects escape scrutiny (The Great Falls Tribune 1/4)
Crow consider 'contract law enforcement' (The Great Falls Tribune 1/4)
Pact allows state, county police to help on Flathead Reservation' (The Great Falls Tribune 1/5)
Alleged sex offenders escape prosecution on reservations, Cascade County charges' (The Great Falls Tribune 1/5)
Sheriff: Lack of extradition pact creates lawless haven (The Great Falls Tribune 1/5)