The Obama administration is taking the same position as the Bush administration on a controversial provision in S.797, the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009.

The provision requires the Department of Justice to report on the number of crimes it declines to prosecute in Indian Country. Tribal advocates say the data will help the federal government and tribes address gaps in the justice system on reservations.

But the Obama administration opposes the release of the information, a DOJ official said at a June 25 hearing. That was a "shock" to tribal leaders, a former federal prosecutor said.

"There was shock because the talking points weren't any different (from the Bush administration) and in fact it was worse, because the expectations were higher," Troy Eid, the former U.S. Attorney for Colorado, told The Denver Post. Eid also testified at the hearing.

Get the Story:
Obama to address breakdown of reservation justice (The Denver Post 7/4)

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