September 17, 2021 3:20 a.m. 

The Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe is among 12 federally recognized tribes selected to participate in the expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information.

A release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Oregon, said it’s a program that provides tribal governments with means to access, enter and exchange data with crime information systems, including those maintained by the FBI Criminal Information Services Division and the states.

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation are the only other Oregon tribe on the list.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said that timely access to federal criminal information can help protect domestic violence victims, place foster children in safe conditions, solve crimes, and apprehend fugitives on tribal lands, among other important uses. She said that increasing tribal access to criminal databases is a priority of the Justice Department and the Biden Administration, and is essential to many tribal government efforts to strengthen public safety in their communities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug said Tribal law enforcement agencies have long sought access to federal criminal databases to obtain important information that can be used to prevent violent crime in tribal communities. He said he is pleased that the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and the Cow Creek Umpqua Tribe have been selected to participate and looks forward to more Oregon tribes being added in the future.