Protect our Native Women Act of 2013

Bill: 113-hr-1836
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD-At Large]
Introduced: 2013-05-06
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Congressional oversight

Crime prevention

Crime victims

Crimes against women

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Criminal justice information and records

Department of Justice

Domestic violence and child abuse

Federal-Indian relations

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government studies and investigations

Indian social and development programs

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

Sex offenses

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2013-06-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-05-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Protect our Native Women Act of 2013 - Amends the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act to require each Assistant U.S. Attorney serving as tribal liaison for a district to serve as a domestic violence tribal liaison.</p> <p>Requires domestic violence tribal liaisons to:</p> <ul> <li>encourage and assist in arrests and federal prosecutions for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Indian country;</li> <li>train law enforcement officers and others responsible for responding to crimes in Indian country;</li> <li>develop multidisciplinary teams to combat domestic and sexual violence against Indians;</li> <li>work with tribal justice officials and victims' advocates to address any backlog in the prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Indian country; and</li> <li>develop working relationships and maintain communication with tribal leaders, tribal community and victims' advocates, and tribal justice officials to exchange information with tribal justice officials.</li> </ul> <p>Directs the Attorney General to appoint qualified tribal prosecutors and other qualified attorneys to assist in prosecuting federal offenses committed in the Indian country of at least ten federally recognized tribes. Gives a preference to those tribes that have the highest rates of domestic violence and sexual assault.</p> <p>Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress on: (1) the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in Indian country, (2) the efforts of federal law enforcement agencies to investigate those crimes, and (3) federal initiatives to help address and prevent such violence.</p> <UL> </UL> <BR> <BR>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1836 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 6, 2013 Mrs. Noem introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To enhance training and cooperation between law enforcement officers to respond to and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in Indian country, to swiftly bring perpetrators to justice, to commission a GAO study, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect our Native Women Act of 2013 . 2. Assistant United States attorney domestic violence tribal liaisons Section 13(b) of the Indian Law Enforcement Reform Act ( 25 U.S.C. 2810(b) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following: (9) Serving as domestic violence tribal liaison by doing the following: (A) Encouraging and assisting in arrests and Federal prosecution for crimes, including misdemeanor crimes, of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking that occur in Indian country. (B) Conducting training sessions for law enforcement officers and other individuals and entities responsible for responding to crimes in Indian country to ensure that such officers, individuals, and entities— (i) understand their arrest authority over offenders; and (ii) are prepared to respond to victims of such crimes. (C) Developing multidisciplinary teams to combat domestic and sexual violence offenses against Indians. (D) Consulting and coordinating with tribal justice officials and victims’ advocates to address any backlog in the prosecution of crimes, including misdemeanor crimes, of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking that occur in Indian country. (E) Developing working relationships and maintaining communication with tribal leaders, tribal community and victims’ advocates, and tribal justice officials to gather information from, and share appropriate information with, tribal justice officials. . 3. Special attorneys Section 543(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking , including and all that follows through Indian country ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: The Attorney General shall appoint qualified tribal prosecutors and other qualified attorneys to assist in prosecuting Federal offenses committed in the Indian country of no fewer than 10 federally recognized tribes, with a preference given to those tribes with the highest rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, compared to other federally recognized tribes. . 4. GAO study The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a report on— (1) the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in Indian Country; (2) the efforts of Federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs, to investigate these crimes; and (3) Federal initiatives, such as grants, training, and technical assistance, to help address and prevent such violence.