Indian Country communities have a unique "government-to-government" relationship with the U.S. federal government. While they have a more narrow scope of policymaking than individual nations, they do possess a wider scope for policymaking than cities and even states. These communities adopt constitutions for their societies, enact civil laws to regulate conduct and commerce within their territorial boundaries, and enforce those laws within their own judicial systems (Policing on American Indian Reservations, National Institute of Justice, 2001).

Additionally, vital interaction among the three distinct sovereigns (state, federal, and tribal) has a profound impact on the justice system, both in and outside of the boundaries of Indian Country. "Each sovereign enjoys exclusive, partial, or no jurisdiction, depending on the location of the offense, the particular crime alleged, and the ethnicity of the parties involved" (Indian Tribal Sovereignty, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2001).

There are no set policies governing tribal justice systems, and the uniqueness and diversity of each system poses many challenges. Furthermore, many tribes do not have the appropriate resources necessary to effectively gather crime data (Policing on American Indian Reservations, National Institute of Justice, 2001).

The U.S. Department of Justice bears a weighty responsibility to work with the sovereign Indian tribes in combating crime and securing the safety of Native American families (Attorney General Holder's Message to Tribal Leaders, September 30, 2009). One example of the Justice Department's efforts to improve law enforcement and public safety in tribal communities was the September 2009 awarding of more than $236 million in funds to tribal communities to support Indian Country initiatives nationwide (Associate Attorney General Announces More Than $236 Million in Public Safety Funding to Tribal Communities, September 21, 2009). Additionally, in April 2009, the Office of Justice Programs' Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking made available, free of charge, resources enabling tribes to easily and cost-effectively create federally-compliant sex offender registration programs and public Web sites (New Justice Department Resources Help Tribes Register and Track Sex Offenders, April 17, 2009).

To learn more, please select a page from the below listing or from the box at the right under the "Justice in Indian Country" heading:

• Tribal Law
• Tribal Justice Systems
• Courts
• Law Enforcement
• Corrections
• Juvenile Justice
• Victims
• Publications