For many years, Indian country detention facilities funded and operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) have been found understaffed, overcrowded, and under funded. In 2003, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) requested an assessment of BIA's detention facility program to examine law enforcement and security programs. The focus was to determine if Indian country detention facilities were safe and secure. This assessment consisted of conducting 27 site visits at detention facilities, analyzing hundreds of detention and budget records, and conducting over 150 interviews with BIA tribal officials. The report is divided into eight sections with recommendations presented in each of the areas. The sections include: oversight and coordination, safety and security, staffing, facility maintenance, program funding, training, and other related areas, such as the housing of juveniles, overcrowding, policies and procedures, and liability. The overall results of the assessment found that BIA had failed their responsibility for providing safe and secure detention facilities with the detention program having been ignored by the BIA managers. It was believed that BIA was not effectively utilizing the funds provided. Overall, the assessment found evidence of a continuing crisis of inaction, indifference, and mismanagement throughout the detention program. Recommendations were presented to improve the security, safety, and effectiveness of detention facilities in Indian country. Appendix