$50 million sought
for Indian Country jails

By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Public Safety Committee and Intergovernmental Relations Committee have approved legislation week asking Congress to reject President Bush’s request to consolidate Department of Justice tribal funding and to increase the amount of funding for detention facilities construction to $50 million for Indian Country.

The Public Safety Committee is preparing its appropriation request on behalf of the Nation and will present the request this week in Washington.

Under the legislation sponsored by PSC Chairman Rex Lee Jim, the Nation also is asking Congress to double FY 2008’s enacted level of $14 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs public safety construction to $28 million in FY 2009 and to direct BIA to allocate a fair portion of the funds to tribally owned 638-contracted facilities.

Currently, BIA funds only BIA-owned and operated detention facilities. The Navajo Nation does not receive any construction funds under this budget line item.

The Nation owns and operates under a BIA 638 contract six adult detention facilities in Window Rock, Chinle, Kayenta, Dilkon, Shiprock and Crownpoint. However, three of the facilities are temporary holding facilities for new arrestees.

According to Department of Corrections Director Delores Greyeyes, the Nation now has only 56 beds available across the reservation for all of Navajo’s inmate population.

Due to the lack of bed space, inmates are being released.

The Nation also is requesting a 20 percent increase over FY 2008 in BIA’s budget for law enforcement operations in order to accommodate the Nation’s law enforcement personnel request of 8 to 10 percent over FY 2008’s level.

In addition, Navajo is asking Congress to direct BIA to establish a sound, policy-based funding formula based on population, land base, economic conditions, and law enforcement resources.

Regarding Department of Justice tribal funding, the Nation is urging Congress to maintain the current budget structure rather than consolidate funding into one tribal program and to increase the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS funding, by 20 percent over 2008.

Public Safety Committee member Hope MacDonald-LoneTree informed the committee that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is asking for $35 million for detention facility construction and has been sending out letters to all appropriators requesting that amount.

Jim’s legislation originally requested a smaller amount, however, MacDonald-LoneTree received approval from the committee to amend the legislation and change the amount to $50 million.

“If you’re familiar with requesting money, it’s always better to request the larger amount that is necessary because they will cut that down from there. So the least amount that we should request is $35 million. What we have been asking for in the past is $50 million because if you remember, we have to share this with all of the tribes across the country,” she said.