- [Narrator] "Montana PBS Equal Time", offering unedited time to candidates for Attorney General.

(bright subtle music) As Attorney General, what would be your approach to working government to government with tribal nations?

- My approach will be to treat them like equal partners in law enforcement.

That means having open and continuing communications about law enforcement issues that affect communities on and off of reservations.

Better communication is critical to deal with missing and murdered indigenous women, which is a major problem.

Being a partner in law enforcement also means the State of Montana must honor its agreements.

For example, the state agreed to handle felony prosecutions on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Reservation.

Lake County has been handling those prosecutions for over 60 years.

It can no longer do so because of unique budgetary issues.

The state, including the Attorney General, has failed to step up and help Lake County.

As a result, there's thousands of outstanding warrants in Lake County.

Again, this is fairly basic law enforcement, and is necessary to get dangerous criminals off the streets.

- [Narrator] Incumbent Attorney General Austin Knudsen declined to participate in this election's "Montana PBS Equal Time" program.

"Montana PBS Equal Time" was made possible by the Greater Montana Foundation.

All "Equal Time" segments are available online at montanapbs.org/equaltime.

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