"The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, signed into law on Thursday by President Barack Obama, provides an important step forward in giving American Indian nations the tools combat violence against women in native communities.

“And in (signing the bill), I intend to send a clear message that all of our people—whether they live in our biggest cities or our most remote reservations—have the right to feel safe in their own communities, and to raise their children in peace, and enjoy the fullest protection of our laws,” the president said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, American Indian women suffer from violent crime at a rate of 3.5 times greater than the national average. And, one in three American Indian women will be raped in their lifetimes.

Among the provisions of the law, the bill allows tribes to increase sentencing authority from one year to up to three years where a tribe provides added protections to defendants.

The bill also deputizes tribal police to enforce federal law. It will allow tribal police officers to enforce federal law on Indian lands against all offenders. It also allows tribal police access to criminal history records to enable them to efficiently check the background of anyone they detain. That includes access to the National Crime Information Center."

Get the Story:
Editorial: New tools in tribal war on violence (The Bemidji Pioneer 8/1)
pwpwd

Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act:
H.R.725

Tribal Law and Order Act:
S.797 | H.R.1924

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