The 2-day annual Dakota Conference on the Northern Plains is a humanities-based public affairs program of the Center for Western Studies (CWS) that explores topics specific to the region in their historical and cultural contexts. Several noted historians have addressed the conference, but non-academic presenters are equally welcome. The topic for the 2023 conference is “The Outlaw Plains.” This year's conference will examine past and recent criminal activity and community responses in the hope of learning what the future holds for residents of the Northern Plains/West.