NCJ Number
248061
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: Summer 2014 Pages: 11-21
Date Published
2014
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study identified the types of hate crimes committed against American Indians and Alaskan Natives, and it determined whether tribal law enforcement agencies view hate crimes against these populations as a serious problem.
Abstract
The majority of tribal agencies that responded to the survey did not view hate crimes against American Indians and Alaska Natives as a serious problem; however, only 27 percent of the agencies that received the questionnaire responded. In addition, the majority of the respondents were confused about what types of incidents constituted hate crimes. This suggests that hate crimes may not be accurately recorded by tribal police. Of the hate crimes noted against American Indians and Alaskan Natives, the majority were crimes against persons. Expansion of current research should include more tribal respondents and non-tribal law agencies in towns bordering tribal reservations. Surveys were sent to every tribal law enforcement agency, police department, criminal investigation agency, fish and Game Commission and Department of Public Safety in the United States (n = 230 agencies) included in the 2011 NPSIB Directory of Law Enforcement Administrators. Follow-up agencies were contacted, or a contact was attempted for the purpose of a phone interview. Surveys and interviews were conducted between November 2011 and April 2012. Sixty-three of the agencies responded, representing 69 tribes encompassing 19 States. 1 table and 23 references