Holder vows to help tribes fight crime

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged Thursday to help the nation's Native American tribes fight high rates of crime in their communities.

Speaking after a meeting with tribal leaders in St. Paul, Minn., the nation's top law enforcement official said reducing crime affecting Native Americans is a priority for him.

"We have two goals for our work in Indian Country," he said in prepared remarks. "One is to find immediate solutions to bring down the crime rates, including homicide, drugs, and violence against children and women, and to put policies in place to help tribal communities make a difference for themselves. The other is to develop long-term answers to the problems facing tribal communities."

Holder added "it is simply impossible to exaggerate the severity of this issue." He said data show some reservations have violent crime rates "two, four and sometimes over 10 times the national average."

Holder said he is creating a Tribal Nations Leadership Council that will meet twice a year and provide him with advice. He also said he intends to visit tribal communities several times during "the next year and beyond."

Holder said his department is "accelerating resources" to tribal communities, noting more than $397.4 million has been funneled to them through more than 25 grant programs. "These resources by themselves are not the answer, but they can help us address one critical piece of the puzzle," he said.

He said his department will continue to work with Congress to pass legislation aimed at enhancing public safety on reservations. But, he said, there is no "quick fix."