Studies conducted by federal agencies, universities, and tribal governments indicate that criminal gang activity within Indian country has steadily increased over the past decade. I am told that this program is entirely voluntary. In Arizona alone, a recent FBI study identified 177 gangs on 14 different reservations. Representatives from two of these tribes are present today. I welcome them and also look forward to hearing their views regarding causes and solutions to this problem.
Gang activity is a relatively new problem that has ominous potential for growth.
While some tribes have conducted studies and have begun to address their gang problem, many tribal justice systems are simply not equipped or properly trained to deal with organized criminal gang activity. As a result, most tribes depend upon federal law enforcement to immediately address their gang problems. Federal law enforcement, however, are only beginning to recognize the gang problem on Indian lands. To date, the Justice Department has logged one prosecution of gang violence within Indian country using the federal anti-racketeering statutes. That crime took place on the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation, which border the cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.