Policing Indian lands in California presents unique issues and challenges. When enacted, Public Law 280 (PL280) required California to replace federal law enforcement and assume criminal jurisdiction over all Indian lands. Initially, California’s Indian tribes objected to PL280’s implementation, and without funding, law enforcement agencies often neglected to implement PL280. Yet PL 280 remains the law and requires local law enforcement to enforce California’s criminal laws within Indian country.

While the exercise of PL 280 jurisdiction is often a source of conflict between Indian and non-Indian communities, this training shows California law enforcement how to make this relationship work. Cooperative agreements between law enforcement and tribal governments will improve services on Indian lands and can also make the peace officer’s job easier and safer.

The DVD program offers three viewing options:

1. Play Telecourse in its entirety (117 min.)

2. Select among eight Telecourse segments:

• Introduction (4 min.)
• Tribal Sovereignty (15 min.)
• Limits on State Authority Under PL280 (14 min.)
• Current Jurisdiction (12 min.)
• Cultural Competency (22 min.)
• Building Relationships (11 min.)
• Law Enforcement Responsibility (18 min.)
• Cooperative Policing (19 min.)

3. Select among seven Telecourse interactions (scenarios only):

• Domestic Violence Call (2 min.)
• Civil Violation (2 min.)
• Burglary Call (3 min.)
• Tribal and State Peace Officers Working Together (4 min.)
• Law Enforcement Responsibility Example 1 (3 min.)
• Law Enforcement Responsibility Example 2 (2 min.)
• Law Enforcement Responsibility Example 3 (3 min.)