Victimization, Native American

Jaclyn Smith

According to the 2000 census, 4.1 million American Indians and Alaska Natives (collectively referred to in this entry as American Indians, Native Americans , or Natives) currently reside in the United States. There are 562 federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native groups who speak altogether more than 250 different languages. Although tribal nations maintain separate cultures, histories, and customs, they share several commonalities. All tribes are similarly affected by many of the same issues such as poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and victimization. This entry outlines the prevalence of victimization in Native American communities (hereafter referred to as Indian Country) and discusses the context in which such victimization occurs. Attention is given to services offered to victims and the challenges to providing such services. First, it is important to understand the available data sources from which information on victimization in Indian Country is drawn. It is difficult to draw ...

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