In January 2007, the Tribal Council adopted the Code of Ordinances for residing on the reservation and on tribal lands. Specific conditions regarding individuals arrested and/or convicted for criminal activities related to drug use/sale or sexual offenses were included in the document.

Article III, Criminal Activity of the Tribe’s Code of Ordinances addresses persons arrested for a sex related crime--they “shall be immediately banned from the Reservation of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of LA immediately upon arrest.” The code allows such individuals to apply to the Tribal Council for re-admission following the outcome of such charges.

The same conditions apply to those persons arrested on drug related activities. In either situation individuals who violate the ban may be fined as much as $10,000. In the case of a tribal member, per capita payments may be garnished if such a fine is imposed. A fine may be imposed on tribal or non-tribal members violating the tribal law.

Tribal officials have been concerned with the increase in drug activities on the reservation, and all have taken the position of “zero tolerance.” To that end, elected officials are also developing a formal resolution that will spell out specific conditions surrounding these two issues, to make as clear as possible that the tribal government will not support this kind of behavior on the rez.

The resolution will cover the adoption of background investigations of current reservation residents and potential residents or any adult in their household.