[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 35 (Monday, September 1, 1997)]
[Page 1268]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Law Enforcement in Indian Country

August 25, 1997

Memorandum for the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Interior

Subject: Law Enforcement in Indian Country

    I am proud of my Administration's progress in reducing violent crime 
and improving public safety for our Nation's citizens. Our efforts are 
making an important difference. Nationwide, the violent crime rate has 
dropped approximately 17 percent since 1992, and the homicide rate has 
declined about 22 percent.
    Unfortunately, during the same time period life has become more 
violent for the 1.2 million Indian citizens who live on or near 
reservations. Homicide rates, for example, have increased to levels that 
often surpass those in large American cities. Numbers alone, however, 
cannot convey the tragic impact of such violence on Indian families and 
their communities.
    This and other information you have provided to me make clear that 
we need to refocus on this growing problem. While some tribal 
governments have developed strong law enforcement programs, many others 
have encountered significant difficulty in doing so. Many Indian 
citizens receive police, investigative, and detention services that lag 
far behind even this country's poorest jurisdictions.
    The Federal Government has taken steps to address this problem. My 
Administration has sought increased Department of the Interior funding 
and tribal control of law enforcement programs on Indian lands. This 
year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) established an Office of 
Indian Country Investigations in its Violent Crimes Section, allocating 
additional agents to Indian Country. The FBI also initiated a nationwide 
outreach training program for Indian Country law enforcement officers. 
We have created additional tribal liaison positions in the United States 
Attorney's Offices in Indian Country, intended to improve our ability to 
bring offenders to justice. Through our Community Oriented Policing 
Services Program, we have assisted tribal law enforcement agencies in 
hiring officers in Indian Country.
    Yet, law enforcement in Indian Country remains a serious problem. 
For these reasons, consistent with the spirit of my 1994 memorandum on 
government-to-government relations and tribal self governance, I hereby 
request that you work with tribal leaders to analyze law enforcement 
problems on Indian lands. By December 31, 1997, you should provide 
options to me for improving public safety and criminal justice in Indian 
Country. To the extent that these options might affect the Departments' 
budgets, they should be included in your fiscal year 1999 budget 
submissions and should be consistent with the funding targets of the 
Bipartisan Balanced Budget Agreement.
                                            William J. Clinton