BADGES Act Aims to Solve Missing Persons Cases in Indian Country, Boosts Law Enforcement Resources

The "BADGES for Native Communities Act" is new legislation focused on fixing some serious public safety problems in Indian Country, especially the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases. It tackles data gaps, boosts law enforcement resources, and aims to improve coordination between different agencies and tribal governments.

Data Gaps and Finding the Missing

This bill starts by addressing a big problem: the lack of good data on missing and unidentified persons cases in Native communities. The BADGES Act requires the Attorney General to appoint special "Tribal facilitators" for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Think of these facilitators as go-to experts who will work directly with tribes to make sure cases are reported accurately and tracked effectively (Section 101). They'll also provide training and technical assistance to help tribal communities use the system and work with non-tribal law enforcement.

For example, if a family in a tribal community reports a missing person, the facilitator can help them navigate NamUs, connect with local and federal law enforcement, and ensure the case gets the attention it deserves. This is a big deal because, right now, many cases slip through the cracks due to a lack of coordination and resources.

Staffing Up and Getting Resources Where They're Needed

The Act also focuses on getting a clearer picture of law enforcement needs in Indian Country. Section 102 requires detailed reports from both the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on staffing levels, turnover rates, and unmet needs. This includes everything from the number of officers on the ground to the availability of basic resources like working computers and up-to-date facilities.

This is like taking inventory in a store – you need to know what you have and what you're missing before you can make things better. The reports will help Congress and the agencies understand where the biggest gaps are, so they can direct resources where they're most needed.

Faster Background Checks and More Support for Officers

To speed up the hiring process for BIA law enforcement, the bill creates a demonstration program for background checks (Section 201). This means that instead of waiting on a federal background check, the BIA can potentially partner with state, local, or tribal governments to get checks done faster. If a candidate already has a security clearance, that's good enough.

This is like having an "EZ-Pass" for background checks, making it quicker and easier to get qualified officers on the job. This program will last for five years, and the Secretary of the Interior will report back to Congress on how it's working.

Recognizing the tough job that BIA and Tribal law enforcement officers face, Section 204 focuses on their mental health. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to make sure that culturally appropriate mental health programs and training materials are available to officers. It also looks at whether these officers can access existing federal programs designed to support law enforcement.

Grants for Better Coordination and Evidence Handling

The BADGES Act also sets up a grant program to improve coordination in missing persons, sexual violence, and death investigations (Section 202). Tribes, tribal organizations, and states working with tribes can apply for these grants to set up centers for tracking cases, establish commissions to improve coordination, and develop resources like rapid notification systems.

This means more resources for communities to work together and share information, which can be crucial in solving these cases. For example, a grant could help a tribe set up a system to quickly alert neighboring communities when someone goes missing.

Finally, Section 203 calls for a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on how the BIA and FBI handle evidence in cases involving Indians or in Indian country. This study will look at any barriers to evidence collection, handling, and processing, and how these barriers might affect the number of cases that are declined due to insufficient evidence. This is like having an independent auditor check the system to make sure it's working fairly and effectively.