Assistant secretary Dave Anderson says deaths in the Bureau of Indian Affairs jail system are not the result of abuse.

Anderson told the Associated Press that the deaths were not out of the ordinary in a prison setting. "My understanding is that these are all either natural causes or attempted suicide," he said. "It isn't because of some type of abuse, from what I understand."

The Department of Interior's inspector general is investigating the jail system in response to complaints of abuse. About 20 deaths, including the recent death of 16 year-old girl at a BIA boarding school, are being reviewed, according to USA Today.

A former BIA law enforcement official said he warned top officials of problems but they ignored him. He sent a tape detailing shoddy prison conditions to central office in Washington, D.C.

Department of Justice reports show that Indian Country jails are overcrowded and underfunded. The Bush administration claims it has increased money for prisons.

Get the Story:
Official: Indian prison deaths natural (AP 5/23)
Report: Indian jails inhumane (The Great Falls Tribune 5/24)
Death of girl part of Indian prisons inquiry (USA Today 5/24)

Indian Country Jail Reports:
Year 2002 | Year 2001 | Year 2000 | Years 1998-1999

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