NCJ Number
234868
Date Published
2001
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video from the U.S. Department of Justice is a panel discussion on victim witness issues found in Indian country.
Abstract
This 47-minute video from the U.S. Department of Justice examines the specific issues inherent to victim witnesses in Indian country. The specific issues include: 1) having multiple individuals from multiple agencies working on one case; 2) the remote location of tribes and reservations; 3) the cultural issues and norms present in tribal communities; 4) the lack of resources to provide timely assistance to victims of domestic violence and child sexual abuse leading to delays in bringing the cases to trial; and 5) Federal officials lack of understanding in the ways of tribal life and tribal communities. The panel included a tribal prosecutor, a Federal prosecutor, and a tribal victim witness specialist. The role of the victim witness specialist includes ensuring that the U.S. Attorney's Office complies with the laws and regulations regarding victim witnesses; acting as a liaison between law enforcement agencies, health service providers, and victims and their family members; and acting as a trial coordinator to insure that victims and their families can travel safely to and from the reservation and the trial location.