Montana AG's Statement on MMIP Awareness Day

From the Montana Department of Justice:

Montana's Attorney General, Austin Knudsen, shared his message yesterday on Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day:

As a former prosecutor in Roosevelt County and now as attorney general, I have seen firsthand the impact the missing Indigenous persons and human trafficking crises are having on Montana’s tribal communities. At the Department of Justice, we remain committed to reducing the number of missing and murdered Indigenous persons in the state and I’m proud of the work we have done to find the missing, hold perpetrators accountable, and bring these issues to light. I will continue to do everything I can to prevent further tragedies.

The Stats

According to the MT DOJ, 693 Indigenous persons last year alone were reported missing in Montana. However, the clearance rate for 2023 is sitting at 99%, with only 6 remaining Indigenous persons that are still missing today.

Missing Indigenous persons accounted for 31 percent of all missing person cases in Montana last year, while according to the 2020 U.S. Census, Indigenous persons represent six percent of the state's population.

Combating the issue in Montana, AG Austin Knudsen directed the launch of an improved missing persons database to provide information the the public on missing persons reported by local law enforcement.

The department also manages the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, which was extended for 10 more years during the 2023 Legislative Session, aiming to reduce missing Indigenous persons in Montana.