Letter: No justice for Indians in South Dakota courts

Thursday, May 31, 2007  

"My heart goes out to people who have lost family members because of drinking and driving. I will guarantee you that if the person is Native American, he or she will go to jail.

Native people have to rely on court-appointed attorneys, so they all get sent to jail. Look at the population in jails -- mostly Natives. I read it all the time. If an Indian name comes up, the person usually gets jail time or prison time. If it's a white name, the person usually gets probation or the charges go down.

If a family member is killed by a drunk driver, hope the person behind the wheel is Native American because the court system in South Dakota will throw the book at him. People, regardless of their skin color, need to be put in jail if they are drinking and driving."

Get the Story:
Janice Howe Harrold: S.D. court system is biased (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 5/31)

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