Baucus and Tester applaud public safety initiatives for Montana tribes

Senators Calls Justice Department-Tribal Partnership “Important Step Forward”

(Washington, D.C.) – Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester are commending recent U.S. Department of Justice public safety awards for Montana Tribes. The funds are available through a new system that streamlines the application process for tribes.

“This process is the right thing to do to cut through the red-tape and allow Montana’s Indian communities to address their unique public safety needs,” said Baucus. “I’m pleased to see the teamwork going into investing in Indian Country while making Montana an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

“This is a smart investment that will provide much-needed resources to improve self-sufficiency in Indian Country” said Tester, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.  “It’s an investment that will create reservation jobs and make Montana communities safer.”

Montana tribes will receive more than $6.4 million in public safety grants for projects ranging from hiring adequate numbers of law enforcement officers to building new correctional facilities.

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (Flathead Indian Reservation)

• $495,072 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Tribal Resource Grant Program
• $450,000 Tribal Governments Program

Chippewa Cree Tribe (Rocky Boys Reservation)

• $499,234 To Develop and Enhance the Operation of Tribal Justice Systems
• $497,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Tribal Resource Grant Program

Crow Tribe

• $499,426 To Develop and Enhance the Operation of Tribal Justice Systems

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

• $726,057 Tribal Governments Program
• $274,286 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Tribal Resource Grant Program

Fort Belknap Indian Community

• $900,000 To Plan, Renovate or Construct Correctional and/or Correctional Alternative Facilities
• $500,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Tribal Resource Grant Program

Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

• $490, 812 To Develop and Enhance the Operation of Tribal Justice Systems
• $121, 320 To Plan, Renovate, or Construct Correctional and/or Correctional Alternative Facilities
• $994, 586 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Tribal Resource Grant Program

Prior to the new grant-making process called the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), tribes had to submit cumbersome single applications for topics ranging from violence against women to juvenile justice. Under the new rules, tribes may select multiple public safety issues under a single grant application.