Feedback from Communities

    • Not sure if there’s a waiting period before it’s ok to report

    • Don’t know who to call to report

    • Report to law enforcement may not be taken seriously: “they’re out partying” or kids are “looking for attention”

    • Missing person reports are too long to fill out; may not be able to finish forms with all the required information; some law enforcement won’t begin until the forms are complete

    • There aren’t enough law enforcement officers to respond on the larger reservations

    • Lack of street signs and addresses makes it difficult for officers new to the area

    • Lack of trust in law enforcement; some people fear reporting to law enforcement because of active warrants, bias, or stigma

    • When families do report, they don’t get regular updates on the case; in long-term missing cases families don’t know if their case is still being worked

    • Families feel law enforcement needs training on mandatory reporting protocol and response

    • Families feel like there’s no one to advocate for them or act as a liaison to explain the process

    • Families feel there’s no accountability for law enforcement agencies who don’t take reports, when a missing person is found deceased, or when families are unsatisfied with the case and its outcomes

    • Law enforcement seems to be stepping up in response in some communities

    • Domestic violence programs are gaining awareness

    • Local law enforcement is looped in with Disaster and Emergency Services

    • Police are out and about building relationships with community members

    • Sharing information on Facebook – gets people involved quickly

    • Search and rescue groups are being created in communities

    • Not enough law enforcement to respond in a timely manner

    • Lack of manpower and resources

    • Poverty, depression, anger, hatred, lack of food, discrimination against their own

    • Traditional values no longer meaningful to younger generation

    • Community members need to be educated to know how to work with law enforcement that has jurisdiction

    • Everyone needs to know how different systems (social services; schools; mental health; substance abuse) work on the reservation

    • Need more adults caring about kids

    • Neighbors don’t help out or report when they see something suspicious

    • Generational trauma leads to substance abuse, child abuse

    • Community members don’t know what agencies exist, what services they provide, how they can help in a missing persons case or to prevent someone going missing

    • Communities needs to be educated to know how to work with law enforcement

    • Need to understand what jurisdiction means and who has it

    • Want law enforcement to be watching out for the community rather than just out arresting people; want to see them as part of the solution