Section 904 Analysis and Research on Violence Against Indian Women

Title IX of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005) required the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct a national baseline research study on violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and murder, evaluate the effectiveness of federal, state, tribal, and local responses to violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and propose recommendations to improve the effectiveness of these responses.

Title IX of VAWA 2005 also required the Attorney General to establish a Task Force to assist with the development of the research study and the implementation of the recommendations. The membership of the Task Force must be comprised of representatives from national tribal domestic violence and sexual assault nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, and national tribal organizations.

Learn more about the Task Force. Learn more about the NIJ Baseline Study. 

The legislation: 

(a) NATIONAL BASELINE STUDY.

• (1) IN GENERAL.-The National Institute of Justice, in consultation with the Office on Violence Against Women, shall conduct a national baseline study to examine violence against Indian women in Indian country.
  (2) SCOPE.-
  • (A) IN GENERAL.-The study shall examine violence committed against Indian women, including-
    • (i) domestic violence;
      (ii) dating violence;
      (iii) sexual assault;
      (iv) stalking; and
      (v) murder.
    (B) EVALUATION.-The study shall evaluate the effectiveness of Federal, State, tribal, and local responses to the violations described in subparagraph (A) committed against Indian women.
    (C) RECOMMENDATIONS.-The study shall propose recommendations to improve the effectiveness of Federal, State, tribal, and local responses to the violation described in subparagraph (A) committed against Indian women.
  (3) TASK FORCE.-
  • (A) IN GENERAL.-The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, shall establish a task force to assist in the development and implementation of the study under paragraph (1) and guide implementation of the recommendation in paragraph (2)(C).
    (B) MEMBERS.-The Director shall appoint to the task force representatives from-
    (i) national tribal domestic violence and sexual assault nonprofit organizations;
    (ii) tribal governments; and
    (iii) the national tribal organizations.
  (4) REPORT.-Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report that describes the study.
  (5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.-There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008, to remain available until expended.