If a crime falls in their territory they ought to be able to investigate. They aren't sovereign if they can't inforce laws! Aren't tribal police federal officers? Why can't they investigate federal crimes?
I thought longmire was oversimplifying if until I decided to research it and while they got some things wrong they got a lot right.
Because the civil rights US citizens are guaranteed in non tribal courts are not always considered or protected in tribal courts, which honor cultural and hereditary firms if justice or procedure, tribal courts currently cannot do so. Biggest reason I can think of off the top of my head probably is that defendants in tribal courts aren't guaranteed a lawyer/legal representation before, during or after trial.
shareI dont think the tribes should handle the court side of things like felonies, they should have real arrest powers and enforce law. If they cant arrest then BIA should have so many federal agents stationed in states with Indian Nations that can work with Tribal Police.
shareIt's a TV show. My tribe's police are cross deputized and have the same arrest powers as non-tribal police in the area. The cross deputization also goes both ways and regular police have powers on tribal land.
shareI know and it gets a lot of stuff wrong but I did do a little research on it and some areas really cant arrest non natives. It is terrible. There was a horrible story about a rape where they knew all parties involved and nothing was ever done about it. I think it that one episode of the show was based on the event I read about it. Accept it was a Native male who was the rapist and a Non Native female. The Tribal Police Officer found her on the side of a road or something partially dressed. Terrible story. Again Im sure the show bends the rules like all shows with reality but it does get me wondering. I thought it was all made up or based off something a long time ago but there is a grain of truth with it.
shareMathias is a BIA Police officer (ie: a federal officer), not a tribal/reservation police officer.
Also, I thought Congress recently passed a law that expanded the powers of Indian tribal/reservation police and court systems? I recall reading somewhere that the Navajo Nation courts were now allowed to prosecute (some but not all) felonies rather than having to hand that over to the local US District Court.
Well he can arrest then on some of the cases they said he couldnt.
shareSome of Tony Hillerman's books and movies about the Navajo Tribal police often discuss this topic. They get some cooperation with county deputies (Indian ones at least) off the reservation but getting the FBI to take things seriously is often difficult.
I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else