As part of a collaborative effort to share crucial information among law enforcement agencies, the Osage Nation Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation signed an agreement for ONPD to submit tribal arrest information to the OSBI central repository.
ONPD signed a letter of agreement with OSBI on Nov. 13 “to electronically submit their reportable tribal arrest information” to OSBI, according to a news release. “This collaborative information sharing significantly contributes to a safer workforce and community for all Oklahomans by enhancing cross-jurisdictional transparency.”
Based in Oklahoma City, the OSBI is the state repository for all criminal history information, according to its website. In addition, OSBI is a professional law enforcement agency that performs many functions in order to fulfill its mission of ensuring the safety and security of the citizens of Oklahoma. OSBI special agents investigate major crimes and assist when requested by a statutory requestor in accordance with state law.
“This is a critical step forward to ensure that tribal, state, and federal law enforcement all have access to an individual’s criminal record,” Public Safety Cabinet Secretary and ONPD Chief Nick Williams said in a statement. “We are proud of this historic agreement that will result in safer communities for all Oklahomans while strengthening our tribal sovereignty. Osage Nation is committed to holding those who commit a crime accountable for their actions, and we appreciate our state and federal law enforcement partners joining us in this mission.”
With the assistance of the ON Attorney General’s Office, a disposition of criminal history will be uploaded to an individual’s criminal background, which allows repeat offenders to be held accountable when and if they leave the Osage Nation jurisdiction, the release stated. “Osage Nation is responsible for providing filing and disposition reports to the District Attorney’s office in the county where state charges are filed so that the District Attorney can report the disposition information to the OSBI central repository.”
In recent years, the ONPD collaborated with the ON Court System, ON Human Resources, ON SORNA Program, ON Housing Department, ON Social Services/Child Protective Services, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Tribal Access Program (TAP) to implement a Kiosk machine that can report crime statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation through a national database allowing criminal history information to be shared across the United States throughout law enforcement communities.
For more information about ONPD, visit https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/services/law-enforcement-department
