The St. Petersburg Times makes an interesting argument against ceding state jurisdiction over Miccosukee tribal lands.

The paper argues that Native women and children will not receive adequate protection because "local policing agencies would be barred from responding to calls for help on reservation land." The paper concedes that while the tribe has its own police force, "any state control to maintain standards of policing would be relinquished if the law is changed. And the FBI is no substitute."

Even though Florida is one of the few states with criminal and civil jurisdiction on tribal lands, the paper argues for the status quo. "The power to uphold the law in this state is not one to be relinquished so lightly," the paper says.

Get the Story:
The law of the land (The St. Petersburg Times 4/2)

Related Stories:
Miccosukee Tribe accused of racial profiling (3/31)
Fla. senate passes Miccosukee jurisdiction bill (04/24)
Miccosukee Tribe donated more than ever in 2002 (04/18)
Bill restoring full Miccosukee jurisdiction advanced (4/17)
Fla. committee approves tribal policing bill (04/03)
Editorial: Don't pass tribal jurisdiction bill (3/31)
Miccosukee Chair: Law will restore our dignity (03/17)
Fla. panel approves tribal jurisdiction bill (3/14)
Fla. asked to cede jurisdiction over tribe (02/19)
Miccosukee Tribe seeks end to state police power (02/06)
Fla. tribe arrests court official (07/10)
Billie given two life sentences (4/20)
Billie plans appeal of murder conviction (2/23)
Fla. murder trial winds up (2/22)
Mother testifies about death of sons (2/8)
Murder trial begins in Florida (2/7)
Feds dispute tribe's brand of justice (10/16)
Miccosukee tribe tries to protect sovereignty (9/26)