Crime on American Indian reservations decreased in 2013, according to a new report from the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
The annual report tracks the number of inmates in tribal jails, as well as the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives incarcerated in jails nationally. A total of 2,287 inmates were confined in the 79 tribal facilities that reported to BJS, according to the report, a 3.3 percent drop from the year before. About 10,400 American Indian and Alaska Natives were in local jails across the country, according to BJS, representing about 1.4 percent of the nation’s total jail population.
About 31 percent of the inmates held in tribal jails since 2010 were incarcerated for a violent offense, an 8 percent drop from the previous five-year span, according to the report.
The report also noted declines in alcohol- and drug-related offenses.
“Inmates held for offenses related to driving while intoxicated or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol declined from 17 percent of the total inmate population in 2000 to 8 percent at midyear 2013. Inmates held for a drug law violation (8 percent in 2000) decreased to 4 percent at midyear 2013,” researchers wrote.
Read the full study HERE.