Abstract

In this thesis, I traced the history of the Major Crimes Act of 1885, focusing on United States Supreme Court cases regarding the Act's enforcement and its constitutionality. In particular, analysis focused on how the USSC's decisions affected Native Americans within the field of criminal law, both as defendants and victims, and how these decisions prove to be contradictory or unjustly detrimental in nature. There is also focus on the ongoing issues in the state of Oklahoma resulting from the Major Crimes Act's enforcement that have begun to spread from a state-level crisis into a nationwide problem. The thesis concludes with proposed ideas for how these ongoing issues may be resolved, as well as how the Major Crimes Act may need to be amended or repealed and replaced in order to do so.

Thesis Completion

2023

Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Milon, Abby

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

Legal Studies

Degree Program

Legal Studies

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

5-15-2023

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