Survey of Jails in Indian Country: Latest Results and Survey Enhancement Initiative

In 1998, BJS collaborated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to develop the Survey of Jails in Indian Country (SJIC) to measure the characteristics of the tribal jail population that may affect jail practices and policies. The SJIC also supports the mandate established by the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 that requires BJS to establish and implement a tribal data collection system, support tribal participation in national records and information systems, and report annually to Congress the data collected and analyzed in accordance with the Act. The SJIC collects information on inmate counts, movements, facility operations, and staff from confinement facilities, detention centers, jails, and other facilities operated by tribal authorities or BIA. In 2020 and 2021, the SJIC included an addendum measuring the impact of COVID-19 on Indian country jails. BJS is currently in the middle of a multi-year initiative designed to enhance the survey items and data collection process.