Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People
Executive Order 14053, signed November 15, 2021, directs federal agencies to take a coordinated, comprehensive approach to improving public safety and criminal justice for Native Americans and addressing the crisis of missing or murdered Indigenous people (MMIP). It builds on prior laws (Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act) and current efforts, emphasizing stronger federal coordination (notably among the Justice Department, the Interior Department, and other agencies), better data collection and sharing (including in urban Native communities), expanded tribal and non-Federal law-enforcement support and training, and enhanced prevention and victim-services programs. The order sets specific reporting and action timelines, aims to strengthen tribal access to national crime information systems, and seeks to ensure trauma-informed, culturally appropriate responses for victims and survivors. It does not by itself create new rights or funding but directs agencies to pursue these objectives and report back with plans and needs. Key themes include: coordinating a federal law-enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans; expanding and improving tribal and non-Federal law-enforcement capacity; improving data systems and analysis related to violent crime and missing persons; strengthening prevention, early intervention, and victim services; and ensuring ongoing tribal consultation in implementing these efforts.
Key Points
- 1Coordinated federal strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including MMIP, with a plan to improve case coordination, Amber Alert participation in Indian Country, trauma-informed investigative methods, and a dedicated DOJ outreach liaison; a report detailing the strategy and needed resources is due within 240 days.
- 2Guidance, training, and technical assistance to support tribal and non-Federal law enforcement, including: implementing tribal domestic violence jurisdiction under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) and related tribal provisions; capacity-building for tribes in Oklahoma post-McGirt; development of Tribal Community Response Plans; and ongoing training on narcotics, substance abuse prevention, and victim-centered, trauma-informed approaches.
- 3Data, information sharing, and analytical enhancements: improve access to and use of national crime information systems (NCIC/Next Gen Identification/NVDRS); expand Tribal Access Program participation; create a strategy for ongoing analysis of violence and missing-person data involving Native Americans (including urban areas) with a 240-day joint report; assess and improve use of DNA databases for missing/murdered Indigenous persons with a 240-day report.
- 4Focused data and research improvements by health and data agencies: assess the adequacy of CDC and NIH research and data collection on violence against Native Americans (especially urban populations) and report findings with any recommended changes within 180 days.
- 5Prevention, early intervention, and victim-service expansion: develop a comprehensive plan led by HHS (in consultation with Interior and Tribal nations) to reduce victimization risk factors and strengthen services (mental health, substance abuse treatment, family support, elder abuse, gender-based violence, and human trafficking), including community-based strategies, culturally and linguistically appropriate delivery, and support for survivors and their families; requires reporting of the plan and actions within 240 days.