The Navajo Nation arrests, tries and convicts people for violent crimes. Only the tribe sometimes has nowhere to put them.

Such is the case in Shiprock, New Mexico. The jail facility there has been shut down since June 10 due to health and safety concerns.

In total, the Navajo Nation has a little over 100 prison beds for the largest tribal population in the U.S. Tribal leaders have tried to get more federal funds for jails but say their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The Department of Interior's inspector general visited detention facilities on the reservation and found them to be among the worst. In an interim report, the IG documented inadequate training of officers, suicides, attempted suicides and escapes.

Get the Story:
Convicts go free because of deteriorating Shiprock jail (The Farmington Daily Times 7/30)

Interim Jail Report:
Text | PDF

Senate Hearing :
Witness Testimony | Real Video

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

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