Rachel Fernandez:
When it's reported, we have the crime victims program and we have the shelter program. So depending on if the victim wants to press charges, wants to officially report, they will go through the process with the police officer and get the report. The police officer will contact crime victims program and/or the shelter and get the information. Depending on if we have to dispatch out an advocate immediately to assist, that can happen. Or, if they opt out of that and they want their information shared, then we'll give them a day and then we'll call. We'll contact, offer services, offer shelter, offer whatever we can and meet them where they're at. If they do press charges, then the police officer has that report, and based on what has happened, they refer charges to our tribal prosecutor. Now, if it's a serious crime, if it's a major crime, then they refer to U.S. attorneys and they get the FBI involved.

Erica Ayisi:
Can you explain why it wouldn't go do the state level at that point?

Rachel Fernandez:
We are a non-PL 280 nation, so we are sovereign. Back in the '50s, we were terminated — '70s, we were restored back to our status. So we don't refer anything to state.