Indian Country Unit

Within the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, the Indian Country unit (ICU) is responsible for developing and implementing strategies, programs, and policies to address identified crime problems in Indian Country for which the FBI has responsibility. As of 2003, there are over 560 federally recognized Indian tribes and approximately 297 Indian reservations nationwide. The ICU's responsibilities include: management of manpower resources; oversight of budgetary and resource issues; procurement of services and equipment; and the provision of assistance and training to Special Agents of the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and tribal officers to ensure that criminal investigations are performed in an effective, professional manner.

The long term strategy of the FBI in IC is to improve the professionalism and investigative abilities of tribal law enforcement entities throughout Indian Country. The goal of the FBI in Indian Country is to improve the overall quality of law enforcement services in Indian Country through: increased coordination with BIA and tribal police; joint training efforts; and joint investigative efforts. The establishment of Safe Trails Task Forces (STTF) is an essential element in the effort to improve the quality of law enforcement services in Indian Country. These Safe Trails Task Forces focus on specific crime problems which cannot be addressed unilaterally by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies.