NCJ Number
255925
Date Published
December 2020
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This is the report on the first year of operation of the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), also known as Operation Lady Justice, which was established by President Trump in November 2019 to “address the legitimate concerns of American Indian and Alaska Native communities regarding missing and murdered people.”
Abstract
The order requires the Task Force to submit a status report in November 2020 and a final report in November 2021. The first year of the Task Force’s work laid a foundation for progress in preventing and responding to the crisis of missing and murdered AI/AN individuals. Task Force efforts have focused on improving data coordination, collaboration among various law enforcement agencies, creation of cold case offices, and improving support for victims and their families. In its first year of operation, the Task Force conducted consultations and listening sessions with representatives of tribal governments, which focused on the scope and nature of issues regarding missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. Model guides have been developed to meet each tribal community’s needs, resources, and culture. Topics covered relate to the development of community, law enforcement, and victim-services guidelines for missing person cases. Seven multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional cold-case teams are reviewing cold cases that involve AI/AN persons. Recommendations for future actions of the Task Force are also outlined in this report.