WASHINGTON--The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Law Enforcement Services (BIAOLES) announces the 2nd Annual Indian Country Corrections Summit to be held from July 16 - 18, 2002, at the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The summit theme is "Positive Change Through Effective Partnership." The purpose of the Summit is to create awareness, share ideas, establish partnerships and enhance commitment to Indian Country Corrections.
"Having a strong and viable corrections program is essential to the public safety of our Indian communities," Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Neal McCaleb said. "Partnerships are the best way to strengthen our ability to offer the best protection and services to our communities."
Indian Country Corrections is a priority for tribal governments and Federal agencies, a number of initiatives have been implemented which affect Indian country correction programs at every level. Tribal communities with new detention facilities estimate a need of an additional $14 million to adequately meet the security, maintenance and operational needs of running the new detention facilities.
The three-day Summit will bring together stake-holders from across the Nation to include tribal leaders, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Law Enforcement Service, the Office of Indian Education Programs, Department of Justice, Indian Health Services, Department of the Interior's Office of Indian Affairs, tribal judges and tribal correction programs to share information regarding model programs and to develop strategies for forming partnerships to benefit inmates and citizens of our Indian country communities. Topics to be presented include, A Historical look at the Improvements of Indian Country Detention Programs, The Indian Country Jail Report, Indian Police Academy's Correction Training program, and Building Better Correction Facilities. Two tribal correction programs, Oglala Sioux Tribe Corrections and Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians Correction programs will give presentations. The Hopi Agency, and Ute Mountain Ute Agency Correction programs administered by the BIA-OLES will be featured.
With an annual budget of $158, 294,000 for law enforcement in Indian Country, the BIA-OLES has a central office and five districts which provide public safety, investigative and detention services for fifty-four of the two hundred American Indian law enforcement programs, many tribes operate law enforcement programs under Public Law 93-638 and original tribal agreements.
