BILLINGS, MT—The U.S. Department of Justice is working with six Montana tribes on a new program aimed at addressing sexual assaults on their reservations.
The sexual assault response team, or SART, program is the first of its kind in the state. It will bring together federal and tribal prosecutors, victim advocates, health care providers, law enforcement and others.
"We hope that establishing SART teams on every Montana reservation will bring healing and justice to victims of sexual violence—the kind of help that will also strengthen the faith and confidence that native women have in their criminal justice system," acting associate attorney general Tony West said on the Crow Reservation, according to his prepared remarks.
West said most sexual assault incidents in Indian Country go unreported due to lack of confidence in the justice system.
