What Is the Problem to Which the Answer was Public Law 83-280: How is it Working Out and What Should We Do Next?

This thesis explores the stakeholders positions in relation to the implementation of Public Law 83-280 PL 280. PL 280 mandated that states assume jurisdiction on reservation land. The thesis investigates how the uniqueness of this law has caused multi-dimensional problems involving collaborationspartnerships, familiarity with the law, compliance with the law, law enforcement effectiveness andor impacts, cultural competence, and trainingeducation. The main claim for this thesis is that PL 280 was written as an unfunded mandate without the consent or input from the Tribes, and was enacted without clear guidance for implementation. The thesis investigates whether creation of a best practices model would create a collaborative relationship among Tribes and public safety agencies, communication among multiple disciplines, unified leadership and command regarding an incident, and improvement in all public safety planning. The research identifies the existing relationships between Tribes and the government, what is lacking at an operational level, what training is available, what the challenges have been, and what the next steps should be to improve the implementation of this law.