Roughly 310 Native American reservations exist within the United States borders. The reservations were formed by the federal government in the 1800s and were made into sovereign nations. While this should mean the reservations are separate from the United States government, the federal government still policies much of the reservations and gives the reservations funds. The Native Americans were placed on the reservations, but they are free to leave.
Tribal governments are allowed to adopt their own laws, which apply only to their tribal members within the boundaries of the reservation. If a non-tribal member is pulled over by tribal police for speeding and issued a ticket, all that person has to do is not return to the reservation. No fee has to be paid because the law does not apply to them once they leave the reservation. Even if the person lives on the reservation, legally they are not required to pay the fine. Also, if felonies occur, the cases are investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, because while the tribe has its own laws, it still falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. So members not only have to follow tribal laws, but also state and federal laws.
Business on the reservation depends largely on how the tribal government operates. The Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota has a very high unemployment rate and few businesses. While the tribal government gets money from the federal government, very few businesses are built. Therefore, many of the tribal members living on the reservation are unemployed. However, reservations have managed to thrive with the amount of money received from the federal government. Numerous tribal governments have built casinos, which creates revenue for the reservation and employs members.
Due to high unemployment rates, many tribal members resort to alcohol to escape from reality. Alcoholism is a rampant disease on the reservations, claiming many members in high school and claiming many lives. While some reservations, such as the Pine Ridge Reservation, are declared dry, there is still a way to get the alcohol within the boundaries. For example, Whiteclay, Nebraska is just outside the border of Pine Ridge and members frequently walk or drive there to purchase alcoholic beverages.
The alcoholism and high unemployment rate contribute to a high crime rate on reservations. The problem is further compounded by a lack of resources. Many tribal governments are unable to employ an adequate number of law enforcement officers. The tribal courts also are limited in their power, having only the authority to handle misdemeanors committed within the reservation boundaries and only if all parties involved are tribal members. Not surprisingly, all the factors lead to high crime rates. Native American women are more likely to be raped than any other women in America. If a Native American woman is raped by a non-tribal member, the tribal courts have no jurisdiction over the case.
