WASHINGTON D.C. & BILLINGS, MT – The grim reality for Indigenous communities remains stark: disproportionately high rates of violence, disappearance, and murder. As National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day was observed on May 5th, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich for the District of Montana doubled down on promises to address the crisis, but acknowledged the long road ahead.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland minced no words, stating, “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.” Garland emphasized the need to honor victims and provide support to families shattered by loss, vowing continued DOJ commitment to safety and justice for Tribal communities.
U.S. Attorney Laslovich, speaking specifically to the situation in Montana, acknowledged the unacceptable rates of violence and sexual abuse faced by Indigenous women and children. “The loss of even one Indigenous man, woman or child through disappearance or murder is unacceptable, and we acknowledge the pain and suffering these losses cause families and communities,” he stated. Laslovich detailed ongoing meetings with leadership from the Blackfeet, Rocky Boy’s, Fort Belknap, Fort Peck, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to directly address their public safety concerns.
The DOJ isn’t just offering rhetoric. Last July, the department launched the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, deploying 10 attorneys and coordinators to five regions – Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast – to bolster prevention and response efforts. This initiative is guided by a July 2022 directive from the Deputy Attorney General to U.S. Attorneys’ offices, prioritizing public safety in Indian Country and fulfilling the commitments outlined in Executive Order 14053.
Federal agencies are also acknowledging the interconnectedness of the MMIP crisis with other threats facing Tribal communities. FBI Director Christopher Wray affirmed the bureau’s unwavering commitment to partnering with law enforcement to address violence, prioritize victim support, and pursue investigations. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram highlighted the agency’s focus on combating the fentanyl crisis and drug-related violence that plague these communities, recognizing no community is immune to these deadly threats.
While officials tout “progress,” the underlying issue remains a systemic failure to adequately protect Indigenous people. The MMIP crisis isn’t simply a matter of solving individual cases; it demands a fundamental shift in how law enforcement and the justice system respond to violence in Tribal communities. Laslovich’s pledge to continue “the hard work of reducing violence and improving public safety” will be measured not in promises, but in concrete results – and, most importantly, in bringing justice to the families left behind.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Human Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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