Thursday, July 29, 2010

Tribal Law and Order Act


President Obama signing the Tribal Law and Order Act, July 29, 2010.

Lamar Associates’ senior managers, having served in top Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement positions, recognize the under-addressed criminal justice needs of Indian Country and take this opportunity to applaud the President’s signing into law the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010. The Tribal Law and Order Act will give tribes and the federal government the necessary tools to addresses complex jurisdictional issues by enhancing the Indian Country criminal justice system and improving coordination and communication.

“The signing of the Tribal Law and Order Act ensures much needed recognition of the tremendous criminal justice gap faced by Indian Country citizens,” said Walter Lamar, President of Lamar Associates. Lamar Associates takes this opportunity to congratulate Senators Dorgan, Barrasso and Kyl, and Representatives Herseth Sandlin, Kildee, Cole, Conyers, Scott, Rahall, Simpson and Pastor for their unwavering and tireless leadership, and also recognize Senate Committee on Indian Affairs former Policy Director, John Harte for his incredible effort in driving the Tribal Law and Order Bill from start to finish. Recognition also goes to Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Deputy Chief Counsel, Rhonda Harjo. Lamar Associates offered both Harjo and Harte input from the early stages of the Tribal Law and Order Bill preparation.

To facilitate discussion among critical stakeholders in the full implementation of the Act, Lamar Associates will host a Tribal Law and Order Act Symposium, October 19-20, 2010 in Albuquerque, NM. “We will assemble subject matter experts from each Indian Country criminal justice discipline to present the specifics of the new law for Tribes, Pueblos, Bands, and Rancherias,” said Steven Juneau, Vice-President of Lamar Associates. “Our goal is to provide a thoughtful examination of the new resources, tools, and authority for our tribal communities.”