President Obama signs the Tribal Law and Order Act, a law that gives tribal authorities greater authority to prosecute and punish criminals. Download mp4 (140MB) | mp3 (13MB)
A Bill Signing Ceremony for The Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 will be broadcast live on whitehouse.gov\liveat at 4:50pm EDT today. Here’s the corresponding press release from The White House.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2010
Statement by the President on the Passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act
Today’s passage of the Tribal Law and Order Act is an important step to help the federal government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities. The fact is, American Indians and Alaska Natives are victimized by violent crime at far higher rates than Americans as a whole. Native communities have seen increased gang and drug activity, with some tribes experiencing violent crime rates at more than ten times the national average. And one in three Native women will be the victim of rape in her lifetime.
The federal government’s relationship with tribal governments, its obligations under treaty and law, and our values as a nation require that we do more to improve public safety in tribal communities. And this Act will help us achieve that. It will strengthen the relationship between the federal government and tribal governments. It will improve our ability to work with tribal communities in the investigation and prosecution of crime, and it authorizes resources for tribes to fight crime more effectively. While many members helped pass this bill, I especially want to applaud Senators Dorgan, Barrasso and Kyl, and Representatives Herseth Sandlin, Kildee, Cole, Conyers, Scott, Rahall, Simpson and Pastor for their leadership on this issue. I look forward to signing the Act into law.
You can download a PDF of slides and audio from this training using the provided links.
Webinar: Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender Statute
Presenter: Leslie A. Hagen, Native American Issues Coordinator in the Executive Office For United States Attorneys
Date of Webinar: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 EST; 12:30 – 2:00 PST
The Federal Crime of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender was a VAWA 2005 Amendment. It allows federal prosecution when the offender has two prior convictions in tribal, state, or federal court. During the webinar the statute and cases charging the Habitual Offender provision by Federal prosecutors will be reviewed:
Section 909: Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender.
Registration for July’s Webinar is now open. Please use the form below to register for this training.
Webinar: Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender Statute
Presenter: Leslie A. Hagen, Native American Issues Coordinator in the Executive Office For United States Attorneys
Date of Webinar: Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 EST; 12:30 – 2:00 PST
The Federal Crime of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender was a VAWA 2005 Amendment. It allows federal prosecution when the offender has two prior convictions in tribal, state, or federal court. During the webinar the statute and cases charging the Habitual Offender provision by Federal prosecutors will be reviewed:
Section 909: Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender.
Published Thursday, July 1 2010, 10:31 PM EDT (WLOS ABC 13) – Video after the link. http://tinyurl.com/2b3mjlu
A 2006 murder at a Jackson County domestic violence shelter spurs lawmakers into action. Bonnie Woodring was staying at REACH when her estranged husband, Woody Woodring, walked into the shelter, then shot and killed her. After her death, Bonnie’s family sued, alleging REACH employees played a role in her death because they left a door unlocked. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2008, but still, REACH struggled to stay in operation because it spent so much money on the legal battle. A new law recently approved by the General Assembly is designed to protect shelters from being held liable if acts of violence are committed on their property. State Senator John Snow sponsored the bill after Woodring’s death. The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence advocated for it. The new law also makes it a felony for anyone with a restraining order against them to trespass on property owned by a domestic violence shelter, regardless of whether the victim is even there.
Current TV did coverage of the rape of Native women on reservations; it aired on Current TV 06/02/10. If you missed it, catch the video here: http://tinyurl.com/2vle2vj
From their website:
“According to national statistics, one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes. Vanguard correspondent Mariana Van Zeller travels to Rosebud reservation in South Dakota to investigate the alarmingly high incidence of rape and sexual assaults.”
Announcing dates for upcoming June institutes. While these two institutes are held at the same facility, separate registration is required for those of you attending both. More information can be found after the link below.
June 16-17, 2010 – Recovery Act Tribal Coalition Institute
June 18-19, 2010 – Regular Tribal Coalition Institute
Our Sister’s Keeper will host the Southwest Native American Sexual Assault Prevention Summit – Friday, May 28, 2010 at the Sun Ute Community Center in Ignacio, Colorado. Click the image below to see the announcement.
