Some excerpts:
Federal statistics have shown American Indians are the victims of violent crime at more than twice the national rate, with incidence of homicide and domestic violence much higher than the national average.
The Obama administration announced Thursday a new effort to try and combat some of this crime on reservations, where shortages of law enforcement personnel and federal dollars have led to lawless environments.
The top three Justice Department officials — Attorney General Eric Holder, Deputy Attorney General David Ogden and Associate Attorney General Thomas Perrelli — will travel to states with high Indian populations over the next two months to talk to tribal members and crime experts about what can be done.
This is just the beginning. The last time conversations like this were held were during the CLINTON administration. Just pathetic, but a great sign that the Obama Adminisration is good for Indian Country.
Here's more on the listening sessions:
Democrats in Congress criticized the Bush administration for not doing more to address the problem and for declining to prosecute many crimes in Indian country. While campaigning on Indian reservations last year during the Democratic primary, Barack Obama promised more protections for tribes, including efforts to improve law enforcement.
Ogden says the government has failed to provide adequate resources and basic protections.
"All kinds of crime flourish in that environment," he said. "There hasn't been enough sustained leadership attention."
Ogden and Perrelli will attend two sessions with tribal leaders and experts in law enforcement in late August in Seattle and in September in Albuquerque, N.M. In October, Holder will hold a larger listening conference with tribes in Minneapolis.
Read more:HERE.
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