"Montana's Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester are among 12 co-sponsors of the Tribal Law and Order Act, and hearings on the Senate version have been held.

Violence problems on the nation's reservations are staggering and shameful.

Now comes the latest report from the Justice Department that U.S. attorneys didn't prosecute 62 percent of the crimes committed in Indian Country in the past three years — 50 percent of murder and manslaughter cases, 58 percent of serious assaults, and 72 percent of all child sex crimes.

"Is there any wonder that many Native Americans have lost faith in the criminal justice system?" asked the bill's author, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.

The problems are so out of proportion to the rest of the country that a single bill will barely make a dent.

But, as with the financial rescue plan coming up for a vote today in the U.S. House, we have to start somewhere, and restoring faith in the system could be as important as the system itself."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Tribal Law and Order Act would send positive message (The Great Falls Tribune 10/3)

S.3320, Tribal Law and Order Act:
Sen. Dorgan on Senate Floor | Text of Bill

Relevant Documents:
Sen. Dorgan Statement | Sen. Biden Statement | Sen. Baucus/Sen. Tester Statement | Sen. Johnson Statement | Sen. Thune Statement

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Senate Indian Affairs hearing on tribal courts (7/18)
Sen. Dorgan to introduce law enforcement act (7/17)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on Adam Walsh Act (7/17)
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