The Department of Justice announced the opening of the application period for federally recognized tribes and intertribal consortia to join the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information.
This initiative, known as TAP, provides tribal governments with the ability to exchange data with national crime information databases, such as the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, for both criminal and non-criminal justice purposes.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted the importance of extending safety efforts to Indian Country and Native American communities that face high rates of victimization. Blanche explained the program’s utility in a statement released by the Department of Justice: “Making America safe again extends to Indian country and Native American communities across the U.S. who experience high rates of crime and victimization. For more than a decade the Department of Justice has offered TAP, an innovative program that enables Tribes to access and share critical crime data in real time with our national databases. With this information Tribal partners can solve crimes, locate fugitives, and use a variety of other tools to keep their communities safe”.
The program supplies participating tribes with necessary software, hardware and training, including biometric kiosks for processing fingerprints and mugshots. Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31, with selected tribes to be notified in September. Currently, 152 federally recognized tribes utilize the program to track missing persons, enforce domestic violence orders and conduct employee background checks.
Law enforcement leaders in tribal communities have noted the operational benefits of the system. Abraham Chavero, chief of police for the La Jolla Tribal Police Department, described the impact on his department’s capabilities in a report from the Department of Justice: “The TAP program has significantly helped the La Jolla Tribal Police Department by strengthening our operational capacity, improving access to critical law enforcement resources, and expanding the training opportunities available to our officers. Through TAP’s support, we have been able to streamline reporting processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination with partnering agencies”.
Tribal judicial systems also rely on the real-time data provided by the initiative. Rebecca Winter, the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court administrator, emphasized the program’s role in local safety according to the Department of Justice: “The Penobscot Nation Tribal Court has greatly benefited from participating in TAP. Having direct access to national crime information systems has strengthened public safety efforts within our community. TAP has enabled our Court and law enforcement partners to access important information in real time, helping us better serve our tribal members”.
To qualify for the program, tribes must agree to use the system for specific functions, such as sex offender registries, law enforcement agencies with arrest powers or tribal courts that issue protection orders. The Department of Justice will host informational webinars throughout July and August for interested tribal leaders.