Tester works to increase tribal jurisdiction

Native American tribes could soon have greater criminal jurisdiction in cases where nontribal members are suspected of committing certain crimes on Indian reservations.

U.S Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, said he brought up the Tribal Youth and Community Protection Act before the committee Wednesday.

The legislation would allow tribal governments to arrest, investigate and prosecute nontribal

members suspected of committing crimes, including certain drug-related offenses, crimes against children and crimes against law enforcement offi...