NCJ Number
172877
Date Published
1998
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This bulletin presents information intended to improve the cooperation between Tribal and Federal agencies in handling child sexual abuse cases in Native American society.
Abstract
It describes how close cooperation between Tribal and Federal law enforcement agencies will ensure effective investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. Such cases often present a jurisdictional maze. This confusion results from difficulty in determining jurisdiction, combined with provisions for concurrent jurisdiction of certain cases. Due to overlapping jurisdictional lines, law enforcement agencies and service providers often feel compelled to interview child victims multiple times, thus producing unnecessary victim trauma. In response to overlapping jurisdictions, many American Indian tribes have developed multi-agency protocols and multidisciplinary teams, children's advocacy centers, and court- appointed special advocate programs to address jurisdictional concerns and to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of cases, while minimizing trauma to child victims. The Federal Government has also undertaken a number of new initiatives to facilitate Tribal and Federal cooperation. Listing of 8 organizational resources