Daron Carreiro, Acting Director of the Office of Tribal Justice, addressed the House Appropriation Committee regarding the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIP). Carreiro acknowledged the committee's ongoing efforts to address public safety and justice issues affecting Tribal Nations.
He emphasized that MMIP is a complex issue requiring collaboration among various agencies. "These include partnerships with Tribal Nations, Congress, other federal agencies — including my colleagues sitting here today — state and local governments, as well as advocates like those appearing on the panel before this one," Carreiro stated.
Carreiro outlined recent initiatives by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to tackle MMIP and related public safety concerns. He highlighted operational efforts by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices with Indian country jurisdiction, tasked with prosecuting crimes such as violent crime and domestic violence.
The DOJ's MMIP Regional Outreach Program was established in June 2023. This program deploys five MMIP Regional Coordinators and Assistant U.S. Attorneys across designated regions to focus on case work, outreach, and training. They collaborate closely with Tribal leaders and law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, Carreiro mentioned the role of Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (Tribal SAUSAs), who are cross-designated in federal courts to enhance collaboration between tribal and federal prosecution efforts.
One notable initiative is the FBI’s Operation Not Forgotten, which concentrated resources in Indian country over three months during summer 2024. The operation led to significant progress on unresolved cases, resulting in over 40 arrests, 11 indictments, and support for more than 400 victims.
Carreiro also discussed DOJ funding support for Tribal law enforcement through grants from its three offices: Community Oriented Policing Services, Violence Against Women, and Justice Programs. Last month, these offices awarded $210 million to Tribes for various law enforcement needs.
In conclusion, Carreiro reiterated the department's commitment to improving grantmaking processes based on feedback from Tribes. "We continually meet with Tribes to receive input on our grantmaking processes," he said.
