CTUIR gains access to federal criminal databases for stricter background checks
By Dan Thesman on Friday, June 26th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MISSION — The Department of Justice is granting the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) direct access to federal criminal databases, allowing the tribe to conduct stricter background checks for personnel working with children.
The expansion gives the tribe’s education and family services departments access to FBI-maintained criminal history records. The fingerprint-based checks will be required for employees, volunteers, and contractors who interact closely with youth.
Tribal leaders praised the development as a crucial advancement for safety and self-governance.
“We appreciate the U.S. Department of Justice recognizing the CTUIR’s tribal sovereignty,” CTUIR Board of Trustees Chair Kathryn Brigham said. “The more thorough the background checks are, the safer conditions are for people, especially children.”
The integration is part of the Justice Department’s Tribal Access Program, which began in 2015 to improve safety in Native American communities. More than 152 tribes nationwide currently use the program to screen prospective foster parents and government employees.
Congress previously amended federal law to allow tribes to enact their own legal authorities for these checks, responding to requests to expand screening to school staff and social service volunteers.
CTUIR Department of Children and Family Services Director Julie Taylor called the move a significant step forward. She noted it would strengthen their ability to vet foster placements and others in trusted positions to support the community.
CTUIR, comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Tribes, established their constitutional government in 1949.
