Justice Department Cracks Down on MMIW Crisis

The Justice Department has joined forces with its partners to address the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIW) in Idaho, highlighting ongoing efforts to tackle the issue in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland recognized May 5 as National MMIW Awareness Day, emphasizing the need to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain.

“There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Garland. “Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”

The Justice Department has prioritized MMIW cases, announcing the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program last July. The program permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people.

In Idaho, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will benefit from the Northwest Regional MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bree Black Horse, who will work out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and assist on community engagement and prosecutions in Idaho.

The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIW cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIW consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People.