To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide Tribal courts and law enforcement with more tools to combat the opioid epidemic.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · August 6, 2024
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The PROTECT Act of 2024 expands the power of Tribal courts and law enforcement to combat opioid trafficking and drug-related crimes on Native American reservations. The legislation gives Tribal courts the authority to issue search warrants for electronic communications using the same legal procedures available to state courts, allowing them to access phone records and digital evidence in drug trafficking investigations. It also extends Tribal criminal jurisdiction to include drug trafficking offenses and firearms crimes, enabling Tribal courts to prosecute these cases independently rather than relying solely on federal prosecution. Additionally, the bill allows offenders convicted under these expanded Tribal authorities to be housed in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, which provides reservations with adequate detention capacity. The bill was introduced in August 2024 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Natural Resources for consideration.
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