Rounds Requests Creation of Commission Addressing Violent Crimes on Reservations

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum requesting the creation of a “Violent Crime Reduction Commission” to address violent crime on reservations.
During Rounds’ meetings with tribal leaders over the last few months, several tribes expressed an interest in creating this commission focused on crime. This proposed body would be made up of officials from the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and leaders from tribal areas under federal criminal jurisdiction. Tribal leaders in support of the proposal have indicated only a multi-jurisdictional effort, like a commission, will effectively combat serious violent crime issues.
“Great Plains reservation communities are continuing to deal with a public safety crisis,”wrote Rounds. “With some tribes experiencing violent crime rates five times higher than the national average, it is clear that traditional law enforcement approaches alone are ineffective and officials will need to develop alternative solutions. Due to President Trump’s dedication to fighting violent crime, I believe it is the right time for the federal government to reevaluate and strengthen tribal public safety programs.”
BACKGROUND:
Rounds has been a leader on addressing the public safety crisis on reservations in South Dakota.
Read the full text of the letterHEREor below.
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Dear Attorney General Bondi and Secretary Burgum,
Great Plains reservation communities are continuing to deal with a public safety crisis. With some tribes experiencing violent crime rates five times higher than the national average, it is clear that traditional law enforcement approaches alone are ineffective and officials will need to develop alternative solutions. Several tribal leaders have proposed establishing a cross jurisdictional commission to directly address violent crime. As tribal nations continue to deal with threats to public safety, I respectfully request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize and support this initiative.
As you are aware, an influx of narcotics trafficking has put a real strain on tribal law enforcement agencies. This problem presents not only a serious public health challenge, but it also directly contributes to violence in reservation communities. According to federal statistics, Great Plains reservations have disproportionally high rates of violent crime. In recent years, some tribal law enforcement agencies have received over 100,000 calls for assistance. Tribal leaders have indicated that despite their efforts, violent crime rates remain alarmingly high.
Tribal officer shortages have directly contributed to the current public safety crisis. Currently, several Great Plains law enforcement agencies are severely understaffed. Consequently, some tribal departments only have as few as two or three officers working each shift. This is especially concerning given that some Great Plains reservations span over one million acres. Insufficient training and hiring practices at the federal level have only exacerbated the current problem, making it clear that a joint effort between federal and tribal law enforcement is necessary to address the tribal officer shortage.
The U.S. trust and treaty responsibility requires both the DOJ and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to share criminal jurisdiction with tribal law enforcement. With this responsibility in mind, it is my hope DOJ and DOI will collaborate with tribes under federal jurisdiction to establish a “Violent Crime Reduction Commission.”
Tribal leaders have expressed support for using a commission to directly deploy resources to tribal agencies in need. This may involve working directly with tribal leaders under federal jurisdiction to improve the current methods for disbursing key resources, including competitive grant funding. As you know, extensive tribal consultation must be a key component of any effort to improve public safety.
Due to President Trump’s dedication to fighting violent crime, I believe it is the right time for the federal government to reevaluate and strengthen tribal public safety programs. I look forward to working with both of you on this issue.
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