American Indian and Alaska Native Organizations
National Indian Justice Center (NIJC) (http://www.nijc.org/) designs and delivers legal education, research, and technical assistance programs that improve the quality of life for Native communities and administration of justice in Indian country. NIJC has designed and conducted effective education programs via regional trainings, on-site training and conferences for tribal courts, tribal government, law enforcement, social services, medical personnel, and victims assistance programs. The topics of these programs include alcohol and substance abuse, alternative methods of dispute resolution, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, Indian youth and family law, juvenile justice, and federal Indian law.
National Congress of American Indians (NACI) (http://www.ncai.org/) is an association of tribal governments whose mission is to inform the public and the Federal government on tribal self-government, treaty rights, and other policy issues affecting tribal governments. The NCAI Youth Commission offers a chance for Native American youth to become involved in NCAI's activities that concern young people.
National Indian Child Welfare Organization (NICWA) (http://www.nicwa.org/index.asp) provides public policy, research, and advocacy; information and training on Indian child welfare; and community development services to tribal governments, state child welfare agencies, and other organizations, agencies, and professionals interested in Indian child welfare.
Federal Agencies
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) (http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html) administers and manages 56 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives. In addition, the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides education services to approximately 48,000 Indian students.
Indian Health Service (IHS) (http://www.ihs.gov/) is the principal Federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people and provides health services to approximately 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 557 federally recognized tribes in 35 states. IHS Medical and Professional Programs include those focused on Injury Prevention, Maternal and Child Health, and Behavioral Health.
Data Summaries
American Indians and crime: A Bureau of Justice Statistics statistical profile 1992-2002. (http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/aic02.pdf) by S. Perry. Washington: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2004.
This report summarizes the incidence, prevalence, and consequences of crime among American Indians.
Homicide and Suicide Among Native Americans 1979-1992: Violence Surveillance Summary, Series No. 2 (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/hombook.pdf) by L. Wallace, A. Calhoun, K. Powell, J O'Neil, and S. James. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1996.
This report of revealed that, during this period, overall homicide rates for Native American were about twice as high, and suicide rates were about 1.5 times higher, than those of the general U.S. population. Native Americans residing in the Southwest, northern Rocky Mountain, Plains states, and Alaska had the highest rates. Young Native American males were disproportionately at risk. A discussion section explores the distinctive patterns of homicide and suicide among Native Americans and how promising interventions can be adapted to specific local settings and problems.
Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2004 (http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2005/2005002.pdf) by J. DeVoe, K. Peter, P. Kaufman, A. Miller, M. Noonan, T. Snyder, and K. Baum, (2004). Washington, DC: U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, 2004.
This report by the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics revealed that American Indian students were more likely than Black, Hispanic, and White students to report being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, more likely to report being in a fight on school property, more likely to carry a weapon on school property, and more likely to carry a weapon anywhere within the past 30 days.
Injury Mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Youth - United States - 1989-1998 (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5230a2.htm) by L. Wallace, M. Patel, and A. Dellinger. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Review. 52(30). August 1, 2003. This report revealed that an increase in homicides accounted for the largest increase in injury deaths among American Indians and Alaska Native children and youth in this time period and that an increase in firearm-related homicide rates accounted for the increase in the overall homicide rate.
Articles
Social and Emotional Distress among American Indian and Alaska Native Students: Research Findings ERIC Digest/ED 459988. Available from ERIC (http://www.eric.ed.gov/) by A Clarke. Charlestown , WV : ERIC/CRESS, 2002.
This publication examined the risk factors associated with the four contexts within which American Indian and Alaskan Native students live: peer groups, families, schools, and communities and what resiliency research reveals about the ability of individuals and organizations to protect children exposed to community and family distress.
Violence Perpetration among Urban American Indian Youth: Can Protection Offset Risk? (http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/159/3/270?ck=nck) by L. Bearinger, S. Pettingell , M. Resnick, C. Skay, S. Potthoff, and J Eichhorn, Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2005 March;159(3):270-7.
This study revealed that the strongest risk factors for violence perpetration among American Indian youth were substance use and suicidal thoughts and behaviors and that the factors most protective against violence perpetration were connections to school, positive affect, and prosocial behavior norms among peers.
Can Education Play a Role in the Prevention of Youth Gangs in Indian Country? One Tribe's Approach ERIC Digest/ ED471717. Available from ERIC (http://www.eric.ed.gov/) by A. Hernandez. Charlestown, WV : ERIC/CRESS, 2002.
This Digest examines factors in gang involvement and one tribe's response through a Native-centric education and juvenile justice system.
News Reports
Research on Youth Gangs in Indian Country (http://www.csus.edu/ssis/cdcps/nativegang2.htm) Sacramento: Center for Delinquency and Crime Policy Studies, California State University: n.d.
This online resource summarizes research on Native American gangs, including findings from the Navajo gang study, the National Youth Gang Survey, and other projects.
Youth Gangs in Indian Country (http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/jjbul2004_3_1/contents.html) by A. Major, A Egley, J. Howell, B. Mendenhall, and T. Armstrong. OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin. March 2004.
A short publication describing the nature of youth gangs in Indian country, based on a survey conducted in 2001.
News Sources
Indianz.com (http://indianz.com/) features news articles and summaries of reporting by the news media on issues pertaining to American Indians. A search feature allows users to search for reports on youth violence and other issues.
