The National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction

A task force model often is employed that allows the federal government to supplement tribalresources when possible. In these cases, the Department looks to the tribes’ criminal justicesystems as partners. Tribal law enforcement frequently is the first responder, collecting evidenceand interviewing witnesses who will be critical to the success of federal prosecution. Moreover, acase may be prosecuted simultaneously in tribal and federal court; personnel in both systemsengage in ongoing dialogue so that justice in both systems can be achieved. Sometimes thiscooperation results in the tribe deferring to a U.S. Attorney’s Office, while other times the U.S.Attorney’s Office will defer to the tribe. In still other cases, it may be determined that the state,in fact, is where jurisdiction properly rests.40