Header Image

Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force

The Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force is the hallmark of collaboration and communication needed to improve response to missing Indigenous persons in Montana.

Attorney General Austin Knudsen advocated for legislation during the 2023 legislative session to reauthorize the statewide Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force for ten years, extending its authority from the previous two-year sunset dates and providing the needed continuity to more effectively fulfill its long-term mission of addressing the crisis.

Members include representatives from each of the state’s eight federally recognized tribes, a representative from the Attorney General’s Office, a representative from the Montana Department of Justice who has expertise in the subject of missing persons, and the Montana Highway Patrol. The U.S. Attorney General’s Office (Montana District), Indian Health Services, and the U.S. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Coordinator for Montana are also represented on the task force.

Goal

GOALS

Establish a task force to break down jurisdictional barriers
1. Primary duties: Identify jurisdictional barriers between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community agencies
2. Work to identify strategies to improve interagency communication, cooperation, and collaboration to remove jurisdictional barriers and increase reporting and investigation of missing Indigenous persons.

OBJECTIVES

Reduce Indigenous missing persons in Montana
Improve collaboration
Identify families’ needs
Create a reporting system
Track data on Montana missing indigenous persons
Create a network of communication among tribal communities

X
Skip to content