Crow Creek alleges federal government withholding public safety records
Tribe declared state of emergency because of soaring crime
The Crow Creek Sioux Tribe is taking the federal government to court over records that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has refused to turn over following several requests.
The tribe filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act Thursday night, alleging the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services is dragging its feet in handing over the records.
“The failure of BIA-OJS to timely identify and release responsive records to the tribe is consistent with defendant’s overall failure to fulfill its treaty and trust responsibilities to the tribe to provide adequate and effective law enforcement services,” the lawsuit alleges. “This negligence has resulted in a dire public safety crisis on the tribe’s reservation.”
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