Sen. Tester: Improving public safety for Indian Country

Friday, October 28, 2011  

The following is the opinion of Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana).

Montana benefits immensely from the rich histories and cultures of its Indian tribes. And as with any community, where there are challenges, there are opportunities. Making reservation communities safer places to raise families and create jobs is one such opportunity.

When I first arrived in the Senate in 2007, I immediately asked tribal leaders to prioritize the issues affecting Indian Country. I wanted to hear the best ways for my work to make a difference for Montana’s tribes.

Improving public safety was near the top of every list. Improving public safety is vital to improving the quality of life in Indian Country. Business leaders told me that poor law enforcement drove customers away. Hospital directors said that they had difficulty hiring because health care providers didn’t want to live in communities where public safety needs go unmet. And as a former teacher, I know that kids can’t focus on their lessons when worried about what happens outside school walls.

Public safety officers were doing their best with what they had, but it was clear that in order to safeguard tribal communities and improve opportunities in Indian Country, we need to ensure Indian Country has the tools and resources to be successful.

As Montana’s only member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, I quickly started looking for solutions.

Our hearings highlighted Indian communities that lacked adequate protection from crime. On some reservations, one police officer covered hundreds of square miles. U.S. Attorneys declined to prosecute more than half the cases referred to them, while at the same time up to 40 percent of Indian women suffered from partner violence. And teenagers felt unsafe going to and from school.

Congress soon passed our Tribal Law and Order Act in order to start fixing these terrible problems. As experts – and common sense – suggest, the best way to make communities safer is to prevent crime, rather than react to it. That is why the Tribal Law and Order Act makes significant investments in programs that prevent substance abuse and domestic and sexual violence, while also making sure that tribal courts have the authority to punish those who violate the law.

Additionally, the bill strives to break down barriers and get law enforcement agencies to work together. At a recent Indian Affairs Committee hearing, the Departments of Justice, Interior, Health and Human Services told us about the significant steps they are taking to implement provisions of the law that require greater communication between tribes and each other.

Although the agencies are working in the right direction, we still have a long way to go. That is why on October 20th I cosponsored the Stand Against Violence and Empower Native Women (SAVE Native Women) Act. The bill will recognize tribes’ jurisdiction to take legal actions against those who commit domestic violence in Indian Country. It authorizes stiffer penalties for violent domestic crimes and will dedicate more resources to public safety in Indian Country by allowing tribes to participate in a number of existing programs designed to reduce domestic violence.

One of the greatest strengths of Montana’s Indian Country is kinship – families and communities taking care of one another. Moving forward, public safety will see the greatest improvements in communities where leaders and residents work side-by-side to address public safety issues. It’s crucial to create an atmosphere of trust that allows these new laws and safety initiatives the chance to work.

Safe Indian communities will lead to economic growth and job creation. And it is my job to work with tribal leaders to ensure that Indian Country is secure and has the tools it needs to live up to its potential.

I will keep pushing the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to deliver on their promises, while ensuring that all parties work together. And I will keep pushing the federal government to dedicate the necessary resources to make sure we succeed. As part of that effort, I want to hear from you. The best ideas come from concerned Montanans. Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts by contacting my office at 866-554-4403.

I look forward to working with you to produce results and increase public safety. Indian Country deserves nothing less.