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.”

Steve Juneau Speaks at Haskell Event

Lamar Associates Vice-President, Steven Juneau, spoke to a very bright group of students at the BIE Summer Youth Leadership Challenge at Haskell. Steve talked to the students about safe schools and the impact of community crime and environment.

New! Emergency Preparedness Training for Tribal Communities

Listen to this short podcast on Native America Calling featuring Steve Juneau, Vice-President of Lamar Associates.

Description:
Monday, March 08, 2010– Managing Emergencies on Tribal Lands: (listen)
It seems like no community is safe from an emergency situation, with Native America holding no exception. Whether it’s a natural disaster, workplace violence, an environmental accident or a terrorist threat, tribal communities need to be prepared. What training or services are out there that can help Native leaders prepare, plan and manage crisis situations? How would your tribal community cope and recover from a disaster? What is the likelihood that an emergency situation will arise and impact your community? Guests include Steve Juneau (Tlingit/Haida) Director of Training/Lamar Associates.

Lamar Associates Featured in Indian Country Today

Lamar Associates: Preparing for tomorrow, protecting today

By Valerie Taliman, Today correspondent

Story Published: Dec 30, 2009

When Walter Lamar was growing up on the reservation, the definition of a gang was a group of boys hanging out in the same T-shirts, banding together for adventure and a sense of belonging.

Things have changed dramatically in the last 20 years, as organized gangs have infiltrated Indian country and created a new culture of violence and drug-related crimes, said Lamar, a citizen of the Blackfeet Nation who spent 25 years in law enforcement before founding his own company, Lamar Associates.

Click here to get the full story...

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/archive/79907432.html

Bureau of Indian Education Safe Schools Summit

Lamar Associates was honored and pleased to coordinate the December 8, 2009 Bureau of Indian Education Safe Schools Summit. The Summit was convened at the Department of the Interior with the goal of bringing Federal agencies together in collaborative partnerships to ensure a safe and drug free environment for the 44,000 students in BIE funded schools.

FBI, DEA, EPA, US Secret Service, US Marshals Service, White House ONDCP, FCC, SAMHSA, State Department, DOI Law Enforcement, BIA Law Enforcement, DOI Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, Indian Health Service, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Department of Justice COPS Office, DOJ BJA, DOJ Tribal Services, BIE Line Officers and tribal school officials were all present at the historic and unprecedented event.

Lamar Associates applauds the vision of BIE leadership which is focused on safe and drug free schools for Indian Country youth.

BAT - Mobile Launched

Steve Juneau is pictured with Matthew Pryor, Special Agent in Charge and Danny Breuninger, Acting Associate Deputy Director - both of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. The occasion is the launching of
two BAT-Mobiles in Billings, Montana. The units are the first in the nation to be deployed in Indian Country.

The two units represent the latest tool in an ongoing effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities on the state's reservations. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, American Indians comprise 6.2 percent of the state's population but they represent about 17 percent of the crash victims in the state and about 25 percent of alcohol-related fatalities.

The units will be used at traffic checkpoints, held especially during high-traffic times, such as holiday seasons and special events. It would allow more accurate DUI testing to be done on the spot, in a controlled setting.

Lamar Associates is currently engaged in a pilot project with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop an Indian Country highway safety information sharing and reporting platform.

Click on the title to read more.

National American Indian Housing Council

While in Palm Springs at the National Congress of American Indians conference, Walter and Steve had an opportunity to visit with Mellor Willie, Director, National American Indian Housing Council. Lamar Associates provides training for NAIHC so we were pleased to discuss with Director Willie the training program's success.

On October 27 - 28, 2009, Steve - VP/Director of Training; Kodi Owens - Training Coordinator; Dr. Ron Glensor - Community Oriented Policing Instructor; and Joesph H. Rosen, J.D. - Criminal Jurisdiction Instructor, were in Anchorage, Alaska presenting Anti-meth Training to tribal housing participants from the Alaska and the lower 48.

We very much appreciate our partnership with NAIHC.

To learn more about Director Willie click on the title.

Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs at NCAI

Palm Springs, California

Steve and Walter are pictured with Mr. Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs. Much to the relief and delight of Indian Country, Mr. Echo Hawk has designated law enforcement a high priority. Considering Indian Country law enforcement has for decades operated in a jurisdictional maze with deficient numbers of officers and equipment, the priority is rightly placed. Mr. Echo Hawk's commitment, movement on the Indian Law and Order Bill, budget increases and Department of Justice's Indian Country re-emphasis will all serve to make desperately needed improvements.

We told Mr. Echo Hawk Lamar Associates enthusiastically stands at the ready to assist the effort.

Please click on the title to learn more about ASIA Echo Hawk.