POLICE CHARGING POLICIES & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Native ...

Royal Canadian Mounted Police are directed to lay charges in domestic violencesituations where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe an offence hasbeen committed. Tribal police could share similar responsibilities as the Royal CanadianMounted Police pertaining to domestic violence in aboriginal communities. The authorityof tribal police is limited by tribal, provincial or federal policy guidelines.c) Cooperative Effort Between Tribal Police and the R.C.M.P.Native Justice ResponseThe survey showed that in some areas where tribal police have jurisdiction it is possibleto work cooperatively with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A Manitoba respondentreported that the process for apprehension or carrying out an investigation "which wasinitiated within the city of Brandon" is the only time the local police get involved with thetribal police on reserve land. In some cases, either police force can respond to familyviolence.Police ResponseWhere the tribal police have jurisdiction, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police work in anassistance capacity. Tribal police have jurisdiction for abuse cases, but where thesituation is life-threatening, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will assist or take overthe file.d) Towards Self-PolicingNative Justice ResponseIn Ontario, an unidentified respondent stated that 'First Nations are policed by FirstNations police services, constables and the Ontario Provincial Police.' The Ontariogovernment is committed to facilitating a transition to self-policing by First Nations.Different respondents stated that the tribal police "try to do more prevention"; have morein-depth knowledge on the background of individuals involved in domestic violence; andhandled incidents of domestic violence satisfactorily.Police ResponseThe Prince Edward Island Royal Canadian Mounted Police have a Native policing unit,and an aboriginal staff member of the Force within one aboriginal community. TheRoyal Canadian Mounted Police work with the aboriginal communities, seekingresolutions to domestic violence situations on a culturally sensitive basis. The role ofpolice does not differ, but members of the community force are First Nations communitymembers. Some respondents asserted that tribal police differ from the Royal CanadianMounted Police because of their cultural and traditional values in handling familyintervention crises. One respondent suggested tribal police have more in-depthknowledge of individuals in the aboriginal community. "They usually know the rootPg. 37