Report urges action on disparities in missing persons cases

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has released its Minority and Missing Report, developed in partnership with law enforcement and community organizations. According to NCAI, the report highlights systemic disparities in missing persons cases involving Indigenous and minority communities, citing data from state agencies, the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

The report calls for increased law enforcement resources, improved training and a national awareness campaign. “We have long known that American Indian and Alaskan Native families suffer from a crisis of missing persons, but this report finally puts the full scope of this tragedy into focus,” NCAI’s president, Mark Macarro, was quoted as saying on the organization’s website. The effort is part of a broader initiative that includes partners such as FBI-LEEDA, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Child ID Program, and the NFL Alumni Association’s Caring for Kids Campaign.