The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force issued its first report on August 1. The report includes ten recommendations to begin addressing gaps in services and response to violence against Indigenous people, including creating and funding a cold case used for MMIWP cases within the Attorney General’s Office
and development of best practices for law enforcement coordination across agencies and with social services.
Task force recommendations:
- Extend the MMIWP Task Force timeline through June 30, 2025.
- The Task Force data and research team will pay special attention to the link between gender and violence.
- All law enforcement agencies should expand their collaboration and coordination with federal, state, county, local, and tribal social and health services. The Task Force shall develop best practices for law enforcement agencies and for social and
health services to improve this collaboration and coordination.
- Community service and resource programs should utilize inclusive language that reflects the experiences of MMIWP families and survivors.
- The Legislature should establish and fully fund a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Attorney General’s Office with a focus on MMIWP cold cases.
- All law enforcement agencies should identify and implement strategies and practices to improve communication and transparency with family members in MMIWP cases.
- Require all law enforcement agencies to use the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
- The Attorney General’s Office shall update and re-issue the Missing Person’s Resource.
- Public agencies should consider adopting policies to waive or reduce fees for parks, permitting fees and other costs, and reduce administrative burdens associated with hosting large events such as MMIWP marches, rallies, vigils, and memorials.
- The Task Force will continue to provide consultation to federally-recognized tribes in support of sovereignty and self-determination.
The 25-member Task Force was created to review laws and policies related to the crisis of missing
and murdered Indigenous people and coordinate a statewide response. AWC’s representative on the Task Force is Auburn Councilmember Chris Stearns. Thank you to Councilmember Stearns for his time and dedication to this effort. A final report
is due on June 1, 2023.