The Department of Justice has announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people.
U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell stated that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District South Dakota dedicates a significant portion of its resources to combatting crime and promoting public safety in Indian country each year. She adds that they are honored to have been selected as one of five districts to receive additional funding to hire an assistant US attorney who will be specifically dedicated to missing or murdered Indigenous Person matters.
Troy Morley, the District’s Tribal Liaison, will be the attorney for the Great Plains Region. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions, and MMIP personnel will be located within host United States Attorneys’ offices in nine states including South Dakota.