An April 24 White House announcement that a supplemental appropriation of $10.9 million for law enforcement on Indian reservations was being requested from the Congress by the Administration was welcomed by Commissioner of Indian Affairs Morris Thompson.
"The Indian community will be pleased to know that this request is being submitted to the Congress," he said. "The upgrading of law enforcement services, including the operations of the tribal courts, is badly needed."
For the 1976 fiscal year beginning July 1, 1975, the Bureau of Indian Affairs had requested $13.6 million for law enforcement. The request for a supplemental appropriation brings the total requested to $24.5 million. In the current fiscal year $10.1 million was appropriated.
If the funding for law enforcement services on the reservation is increased, a major part of the additional funds will be used for expanding staffs.
In some states Indian reservations are under state jurisdiction. In others, the state has no authority on the reservations, and both civil and criminal justice is the joint responsibility of the tribes and the Federal Government.
