Deb Haaland: “I offer this bipartisan amendment to improve public safety in Indian Country through the Tribal Access Program, or TAP…”

“I offer this bipartisan amendment to improve public safety in Indian Country through the Tribal Access Program, or TAP, which is an existing information-sharing system for Tribes in Indian Country. The Tribal Access Program administered through the Department of Justice is an effective method of sharing criminal conviction information between Tribal, local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. {time} 1845 TAP allows law enforcement officers in neighboring jurisdictions to see each other's restraining orders, warrants, and exclusion orders across jurisdictional boundaries to improve public safety. Having this information is critical to keeping victims of domestic violence safe from harm, but, unfortunately, the Department of Justice has told many Tribes they don't qualify to participate. Although the statute says that any Tribal government can access this data, the DOJ rejects applications from Tribes that don't specifically have arrest authority. Under my amendment, a Tribal government with a designated public safety agency, regardless of their ability to detain and arrest perpetrators, will have access and the ability to enter information into the TAP program. I want to be clear that my amendment does not allow these designated public safety departments or agencies to determine criminal convictions. That is a determination made by courts through due process.…”