Results of the Survey of Jails in Indian Country

• Activity Number: 547 - Statistics About Crime and Justice for Tribal Areas and for American Indian and Alaska Natives: Current State and the Need for Innovation
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 11, 2022 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Government Statistics Section
• Author(s): Michael B Field* and Todd D. Minton
• Companies: Bureau of Justice Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics
• Keywords: Crime; Justice; Tribal; American Indians and Alaska Natives; Jails; COVID

Abstract

The Survey of Jails in Indian Country (SJIC) supports the mandate established by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 that requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to establish and implement a tribal data collection system, support tribal participation in national records and information systems, and annually report to Congress the data collected and analyzed in accordance with the Act. SJIC collects detailed information on inmate counts, movements, facility operations, and staff from confinement facilities, detention centers, jails, and other facilities operated by tribal authorities or the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 2020 and 2021, the SJIC included an addendum measuring the impact of COVID-19 on Indian country jails. A total of 2,020 inmates were held in 82 Indian country jails at midyear 2020, a 30% decrease from the 2,890 inmates held in 83 facilities at midyear 2019. The decline can be attributed mainly to the COVID-19 pandemic. From March to June 2020, 7% of people admitted to Indian country jails received expedited release due to the pandemic, and 2,130 COVID-19 tests were conducted on inmates held in Indian country jails. About 9% of these tests were positive.