AUSAs/Tribal Liaisons in Indian Country

DOJ Adds 33 New AUSAs, 21 in Indian Country Districts

Kate Fort

From PR Newswire (with additional local coverage):

Department of Justice Announces Allocation of 33 New Prosecutors, Launches 3 Community Prosecution Pilot Teams in Indian Country

WASHINGTON, May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Attorney General Eric Holder today announced the allocation of 33 new Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) positions to 21 judicial districts that contain Indian Country. The department has also launched three Indian Country Community Prosecution Teams. These new resources will enable the Justice Department to work with tribal and state law enforcement partners to improve public safety in tribal communities.

“Violent crimes, and particularly crimes against women and girls, continue to devastate tribal communities across the country, and the U.S. Attorney community is crucial to the Department of Justice’s response,” Attorney General Holder said. “With 33 more federal prosecutors headed to Indian Country, and the launch of three new Community Prosecution Pilot Projects, we have made significant progress finding and implementing solutions to the public safety challenges confronting tribal communities. This Administration is committed to reducing the level of violent crime in tribal communities.”

The new AUSA allocation is the result of $6 million provided in the department’s FY2010 budget for the hiring of prosecutors in Indian Country. Districts were asked to submit requests for additional prosecutors, which were reviewed with relevant statistical data by a team of U.S. Attorneys and staff from the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys. Thirty AUSAs will be distributed to districts as follows:

Continue reading →

DOJ Meeting with AUSAs/Tribal Liaisons re: Indian Country Crime

Matthew L.M. Fletcher2 Comments

On September 11, 2009, Department of Justice Leadership, including the Deputy Attorney General, Associate Attorney General, and Director Jarrett, met with a group of AUSAs and AUSA Tribal Liaisons from around the country. The discussion focused on public safety concerns in Indian country, the federal response to criminal justice and social service issues on reservations, and proposed solutions for improving the Department’s response to crime in Indian country. The session was one in a series of Indian country stakeholder listening sessions being conducted by DOJ in advance of the Tribal Nations/Justice Department Listening Session: A Dialogue to Make a Difference, scheduled for October 28-29 in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.

AUSAs in Indian Country

Left to Right – Bottom Row: Arvo Mikkanen(Kiowa/Comanche), Jeff Davis (Turtle Mtn. Chippewa), Jan Morley (Turtle Mtn. Chippewa), Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director – Marshall Jarrett, Deputy Attorney General – David Ogden, Associate Attorney General – Tom Perrelli, Leslie Hagen, Vincent Kirby, Kerry Jacobson, Tricia Tingle (Choctaw). Top Row: Scott Kerin, Vince Carroll, Traci Whelan, Randy Seiler, Tom Rice, Jan Sharp, Kyle Nayback (Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa).