by
<a href="mailto:candiceb@awcnet.org">Candice Bock</a>, <a href="mailto:sheilag@awcnet.org">Sheila Gall</a>, <a href="mailto:lindseyh@awcnet.org">Lindsey Hueer</a>, <a href="mailto:katherinew@awcnet.org">Katherine Walton</a> | Feb 10, 2023
The House voted last week on <strong>HB 1177</strong>, sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D–La Conner), which creates a missing and murdered indigenous women and people cold case investigations unit in the Attorney General’s Office.
The House voted last week on HB 1177, sponsored by Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D–La Conner), which creates a missing and murdered indigenous
women and people cold case investigations unit in the Attorney General’s Office.
The House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee and Appropriations Committee passed out a substitute bill that changes the unit to a Cold Case Investigations Assistance Unit and provides that the Unit may proactively offer assistance to a
law enforcement agency with primary jurisdiction over the case. The amendment clarifies that the unit may not investigate or assist with an investigation unless the law enforcement agency requests assistance or support.
This legislation was recommended by the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW/P) Task Force and was just
one of ten recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature to begin addressing gaps in services and response
to violence against Indigenous people. The 25-member task force, facilitated by the Attorney General’s Office, coordinates a statewide response to Indigenous people who go missing, are the victims of homicide, or experience other types of gender-based
violence in urban and tribal communities. Other recommendations include:
- Standardizing the use of the National Missing & Unidentified Persons System
- Expanding the scope of MMIWP data and research to all genders
- Working with law enforcement agencies to expand coordination
- Promoting inclusive language
- Improving communication and transparency in MMIWP cases
- Updating the Missing Person’s Resource
- Reducing or waiving fees for MMIWP public events
- Continuing to support sovereignty and self-determination
- Extending the MMIWP Task Force timeline through June 30, 2025
AWC’s representative on the Task Force was Rep. Chris Stearns (D–Auburn), former Auburn Councilmember. Thank you to Rep. Stearns for his time and dedication to this effort. AWC is in the process of selecting a replacement on the committee.