Newsom signs bill requiring law enforcement to collect data on crimes on Indian land

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Friday that requires law enforcement to collect data on crimes that take place on Native American lands and provide that information to the California Department of Justice. 

The bill, AB 2695, is part of the California Department of Justice's efforts to address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis, as well as their work to improve public safety in Indian Country. 

California Attorney General Rob Bonta sponsored the bill, which was authored by San Bernardino Assembly member James C. Ramos. 

"I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing AB 2695 into law," Bonta said in a statement. "For the first time in California, law enforcement agencies will be required to collect data on crimes occurring on Indian lands and report that information to my office. This will help all of us develop data-driven strategies to end the MMIP crisis in our state and improve justice for tribal citizens."

California houses the second-most federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States, falling only behind Alaska. There are 109 tribes and 100 separate reservations or rancherias in the Golden State. 

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The existing law currently requires California's DOJ to "provide technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies that have Indian lands within or abutting their jurisdictions, and to tribal governments with Indian lands," AB 2695 said. 

New additions will now demand that guidance is provided for law enforcement education and training on policing and criminal investigation on Indian lands, as well as guidance that helps improve crime reporting, statistics, criminal procedures and investigative tools for police.  

"This measure will help California deal with the lack of clear data about MMIP and where domestic violence occurs," Assembly member Ramos said in a statement. "That information will better inform us about how to deal with this issue as California ranks fifth in the nation in MMIP unresolved cases."