The universe of the 2019 Census of Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies (CTLEA) was based on the 2018 Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies (CSLLEA) tribal respondents, the 2002 Census of Tribal Justice Agencies respondents, the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Indian Country Law Enforcement Section membership list, and a list of tribal agencies received from the FBI’s Indian Crime Unit.
The 2019 CTLEA was fielded from August to December 2019 among 305 tribal law enforcement agencies and Alaska State Troopers operating as of September 30, 2018. Based on responses to the eligibility-criteria and screener questions, the CTLEA universe consisted of 258 tribal law enforcement agencies responsible for policing in Indian country and Alaska Native villages: 234 tribally operated law enforcement agencies, 23 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement agencies, and the Alaska State Trooper Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Program.
The universe excluded 19 tribal police or public safety departments found to be out of scope for 2018 and 28 agencies found to be ineligible. Among the eligible agencies, 92% (214) of tribally operated law enforcement agencies and 100% of BIA law enforcement agencies completed the CTLEA. The Alaska State Troopers also completed the survey on behalf of the VPSO Program, which provides public safety support in Alaska Native villages.
