NCJ Number
240126
Date Published
January 2010
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the findings and methodology of a study of the status of data collection on violence and sexual assault directed against women living in Indian Country.
Abstract
The study found that there is no systematic data-collection system that would enable States to provide accurate data on domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault incidents in Indian Country. States that have explored the issue have generally used either data provided by tribes to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or data from service providers. BIA data are collected manually on forms in categories similar to those used in Uniform Crime Reports (UCR). The BIA forms include categories for forcible rape, attempted forcible rape, and domestic violence. Instructions and standardized definitions are not provided with the forms, and the data are not checked for accuracy or consistency. In so far as the BIA data are dependent on tribal law enforcement reporting, the underreporting of domestic violence and sexual assault incidents is to be expected. Regarding data from service providers, not all States have information available from service providers. Those that do most often have summary information that usually includes number of incidents/offenses/contacts, and unduplicated victim counts. Summary data generally will not include information on race/ethnicity, which is usually how Native Americans are identified. Identifying incidents or victims on tribal lands requires appropriate coding of the reporting agency. The survey conducted for the current study found that there are a number of local agencies that provide services largely or exclusively to Native Americans. It would be possible to obtain from the State, or perhaps from the Office on Violence Against Women, a list of these local agencies, which could then be surveyed; however data from service providers have their own difficulties, including double counting and requirements of confidentiality. 2 tables