Criminal Justice Needs of Native Americans in New England

Abstract

Criminal justice needs of Native Americans in New England were examined through 71 questionnaires completed by members of Native American tribes in New England. Groups not recognized by the federal government lacked tribal law enforcement, emergency, court, or correctional services. Non-Native police departments serving the Native communities often lacked training in Native culture and traditions. Criminal justice systems had few opportunities for developing cooperative agreements with Native organizations. Official federal recognition of tribes, bands, or communities enables these groups to receive greater financial and criminal justice resources. The public safety needs of Native Americans can be better met by developing improved crime statistics, by developing tribal dispute resolution programs, and by fostering partnerships between Native American communities and non-Native criminal justice and social service agencies.

KEYTERMS:

• Native American
• criminal justice
• public safety
• federal tribal recognition

Acknowledgments

This article is a revision of a paper presented at the 2010 meetings of the Academy for Criminal Justice Sciences, San Diego, California.