After a year of research, the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives published its report on the steps it will take over the next year to address the crisis of missing native people.
The task force, part of President Trump’s Operation Lady Justice, conducted more than a dozen meetings with Native American tribes and other groups to establish operational protocols, solve cold cases, and expand outreach and awareness, according to a Thursday press release.
“American Indians and Alaska Natives experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, a situation that is all the more tragic in light of the generations of trauma already suffered by indigenous people,” Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented challenges it posed, the Task Force continued to progress with appropriate urgency to diagnose the symptoms of this intractable problem. They sought the help and input from tribal leaders and tribal communities to develop sustainable protocols that will lead to long-term resolutions tribal communities need and deserve.”
The task force focused on improving how law enforcement officials “respond to the high volume of such cases, and to the investigative challenges that might be presented in cases involving female victims.”
To that end, the task force established a framework to connect local and federal law enforcement and expand the use of federal databases in missing persons cases. The framework also provides clarity regarding jurisdictional issues that can often stall cases and hinder investigators working on them.
The operation also included $1.5 million to hire 11 missing and murdered indigenous peoples coordinators and additional staff in 11 states to “work closely with Federal, Tribal, state, and local agencies” for the duration of cases and “identify opportunities to improve missing persons data.”
“Tribal leaders and community advocates have been on the forefront of this issue for years,” said Administration for Native Americans Commissioner Jeannie Hovland. “At their request, I have elevated the critical role prevention must play in reducing the number of Native Americans who tragically go missing or are murdered. With their partnership and guidance, HHS is taking unprecedented action on this issue using a public health approach. This means addressing the root causes of this issue. I believe that together we can, and will, end the crisis of Missing and Murdered Native Americans.”
The task force’s work is expected to continue for another year.
