Department of Justice plans increase in tribal safety funding

Wednesday, September 19, 2018  

The Department of Justice is planning additional investments in public safety funding in Indian Country.

The department is announcing $113 million in grants at the 26th annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference on Wednesday, The Associated Press reports. An additional $133 million in funding will be announced in the coming weeks as well, the AP said.

“We recognize the serious nature of the problem we’re facing and we are trying through a variety of strategies — both through the funding and the use of our own prosecutors, and building up awareness — to address these issues,” Jesse Panuccio, the acting associate attorney general at the department, told the AP.

USA Anderson @ NM breakout session discussing issues on violent crime & what is needed to help victims of crime in NM Tribal communities pic.twitter.com/BkMYCFdYZH

— U.S. Attorney NM (@USAO_NM) September 18, 2018

Panuccio is joining top federal prosecutors from New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona at the Four Corners Indian Country Conference, which began on Tuesday. This year's theme is “Exploring the Power of our Work: Building our Capacity to Assist Victims and Strengthening our Own Ability to be Resilient."

The meeting is being hosted by the Pueblo of Pojoaque in northern New Mexico. It concludes on Thursday.

Feds plan funding boost to fight assaults on Native women (The Associated Press September 19, 2018)