- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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Proposal to grant tribal governments and courts new public safety tool moves forward in State Senate
On Tuesday, the Senate Public Safety Committee gave unanimous approval to AB 44 — introduced earlier this year by Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) — which would give tribal entities that access.
“Passage of AB 44 is critical to assisting tribes keep their communities safe and investigate crimes, especially crimes involving missing and murdered Native Americans. It will also help protect neighboring communities and create stronger communication and partnerships between the tribes and other law enforcement agencies,” said Ramos.
AB 44 grants tribal governments and tribal courts access to the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System — known as CLETS — which contains databases with information about an individual’s criminal history and criminal record.
Through CLETS, tribal governments and tribal courts also gain access to the International Justice and Public Safety Network, the Criminal Justice Information Services and the National Crime Information Center and Department of Motor Vehicles records such as driver’s license and vehicle registration information.
Ramos said California has the fifth largest caseload of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people.
He added that nearly one-half of all Indigenous women have been sexually assaulted, beaten or stalked by an intimate partner.
“Without CLETS access, tribal courts and tribal law enforcement cannot enter domestic violence protective orders or share and update criminal and missing record information. Lack of CLETS access puts tribal communities at a disadvantage and allows criminal perpetrators to escape justice,” Ramos said.
Current entities with CLETS access include sheriffs, city police departments, district attorneys, courts, probation departments, the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Justice, the Department of Insurance, the Employment Development Department, university, college and school district police departments, fire department arson investigation units and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Tribal governments and courts will be granted CLETS access by the Attorney General under AB 44.
The governing body of a tribe will need to adopt a law or resolution to declare the tribe will comply with procedural laws, inspections, audits and other measures with CLETS operating policies.
The Department of General Services will determine setup and access charges to the tribes for CLETS access.
AB 44 is sponsored by the Yurok Tribe. A partial list of supporters includes the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, California Consortium for Urban Indian Health, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, Resighini Rancheria Tribal Council, California Indian Legal Services, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, California Tribal Police Chiefs Association, Northern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, California Tribal Families Coalition and Friendship House Association of American Indians.
Ramos is the first and only California Native American serving in the state’s legislature, and he chairs the Assembly Committees on Rules.