Welcome to the Indian Law and Order Commission 

This national advisory commission was created in July 2010 when the Tribal Law and Order Act was passed. The President and Congress appointed the nine Commissioners, who are all volunteers, and - due to federal budget restraints - the Commission was organized and began its work in the summer of 2011.

The Commission itself receives limited funding from the U.S. Departments of Justice and the Interior in order to carry out our statutory responsibilities. We have no offices, and our staff consists of career federal public officials who have been loaned to the Commission as provided by the Act.

The Commission's role is to recommend reforms for making Indian Country safer and more just for all Americans. The Act requires us to assess how the Tribal Law and Order Act is being implemented. The Commission is also charged with recommending  additional ways to strengthen justice and public safety for people living and working on and near Native American communities and lands throughout the United States.

The Tribal Law and Order Act has three basic purposes. First, the Act was intended to make federal departments and agencies more accountable for serving tribal lands. Second, the Act was designed to provide greater freedom for Indian tribes and nations to design and run their own justice systems.  This includes tribal court systems generally, along with those communities that are subject to full or partial state criminal jurisdiction under Public Law 280. Third, the Act sought to enhance cooperation among tribal, federal, and state officials in key areas such as law enforcement training, interoperability, and access to criminal justice information.

In addition to assessing the Act's effectiveness, the Commission is also exploring possible long-term improvements to the structure of the justice system in Indian Country. This includes the basic division of responsibility among federal, tribal, and state officials and institutions.

We welcome your comments and your participation as the Commission goes into the field and prepares its recommendations to the President and Congress.

Best Regards,

Troy A. Eid
Chairman