The number of inmates housed in detention facilities in Indian Country fell 1.3 percent between 2007 and 2008, the Department of Justice said on Monday.

At midyear 2008, a total of 2,135 inmates were confined in 82 facilities. That's down from 2,163 inmates confined in 79 facilities at midyear 2007.

The figures represented a new trend in Indian Country. Reports from prior years showed steady increases in the inmate population as facilities remained overcrowded.

But 23 new facilities have opened since 2004 and one facility that had been closed in 2004 was reopened in 2007. As a result, jail bed space has increased by 37 percent.

At the same time, a number of facilities remained severely overcrowded.At midyear 2008, 18 jails reported operating at more than 50% over their rated capacity on the facility’s most crowded day in June 2008.

The most overcrowded facility was the Tohono O'odham Adult Detention Center on the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona. The jail is only rated to house 34 inmates yet 146 were there on its peak day in June 2008.

The White Mountain Apache Detention Center on the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona was designed to hold 46 inmates. But 113 were there on the most crowded day in June 2008.

By gender, males represented 79 percent of the inmate population. Adult males and females made up 88 percent of the jail population, according to the report.

Domestic violence accounted for 15 percent of the offenses, with assault representing another 15 percent. "Other" crimes accounted for 46 percent.

The Obama administration publicized and commented on yesterday's report, a big contrast from the Bush years, when the reports weren't announced despite an investigation by the Interior Department into harsh conditions at jail facilities.

"Today's report highlights what so many of us at the Department are working to address - the resource and capacity challenges faced by tribal law enforcement in their communities," said Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli. "Many of these issues were raised during the Department's Tribal Nations Listening Session with the Attorney General. We will continue to work with our tribal partners to address these issues and improve public safety in Indian Country."

Get the Report:
Jails in Indian Country, 2008 (December 2009)