Crime and the New Mexico Reservation: An Analysis of Crime on Native American Land (1996-2002), Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 212239
• Author(s): Paul Steele Ph.D.; Neil Damon M.A.; Kristene Denman M.A.
• Date Published: December 2005
• Length: 11 pages
• Agencies: BJS-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Summary); Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This is the executive summary of a study that examined crime trends among 16 of the 22 Native-American tribes in New Mexico.

Abstract

The crime rates of these reservations were compared to those of Albuquerque, the State as a whole, and the United States. The data analyzed involved crimes reported to tribal police at each reservation, which included all criminal acts committed on specified tribal lands whether or not committed by tribal members. The data do not distinguish crimes committed by tribal and nontribal members. Data on reservation population were obtained from the 2000 Census redistricting data. The analysis focused on Part One Index Crimes and DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenses. Findings pertain to changes in the amount of crime reported over time, the most prevalent crimes, and how they compared to the three domains outside of tribal lands. There was no pattern for Part One Crimes over time for all the tribes or the separate tribes. For most tribes, crime varied over time. Regarding DWI offending, a Part II offense, there was an apparent increase over time, but with significant variation. Five tribes remained stable in DWI offending rate over time; three tribes had an increase; and another five had a reduction in DWI over time. The remaining tribes did not show a particular pattern. The average rate of Part One Index Crime was lower each year among the reservations than among the general populations of Albuquerque, NM, and the United States. On the other hand, reported DWI on tribal lands was significantly greater than for the three nontribal domains. For Part One Crimes on reservations, aggravated assault was the most prevalent, followed by larceny. Robbery, homicide, and rape were the least frequent. 4 figures and 1 table