For many American Indian and Alaska Native communities, effective response to missing persons cases can be hindered by jurisdictional complexities and a lack of staff, resources, and tools that may leave law enforcement and affected family and loved ones without adequate support. Volunteers and effective community partnerships can play an important role in assisting with missing persons cases through a variety of nonsworn support roles.

Through the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is working with the COPS Office and the Operation Lady Justice Task Force, a Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The work includes development of training to support tribal leaders and law enforcement in engaging and strengthening community partnerships to work together on missing persons cases. The two-part training series will also focus on the fundamentals of building and sustaining an effective volunteer program tailored to the unique needs of a tribal community.

Introduction for Leadership: Volunteer Engagement for American Indian and Alaska Native Missing Persons Cases will introduce tribal leadership to the benefits and foundational concepts of a volunteer engagement program. The training will provide tribal law enforcement, victim service providers, and other key stakeholders with options and considerations to build a volunteer engagement program to meet their unique needs. Discussions will be tailored to services available to the community and designed to enhance and maximize capacity of local resources and communication. Learning objectives include the following:

• Introduction to Indian Country criminal jurisdiction
• When a missing person case becomes a crime
• Understanding the criminal justice process
• Victim services and victims’ rights
• Tribal leadership coordination with law enforcement
• Next steps for implementing a volunteer engagement program

Volunteer Engagement for American Indian and Alaska Native Missing Persons Cases is designed to complement Introduction for Leadership: Volunteer Engagement for American Indian and Alaska Native Missing Persons Cases for a broader audience to include tribal members; tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners; community victim advocates; and other stakeholders who will have a role in developing and managing a missing persons volunteer program. The training will provide a basic introduction to the elements of a volunteer engagement program and the steps necessary to implement it. Learning objectives include the following:

• Law enforcement process for missing person investigation
• How volunteers add value
• Benefits of establishing a formal volunteer engagement program
• How to establish organizational readiness
• Defining volunteer roles
• How to recruit volunteers
• Volunteer orientation and training
• Strategies to sustain engagement
• What can go awry with a volunteer program and how to address issues

A formalized volunteer engagement program allows for better oversight and risk management of volunteers while improving victim services and outcomes for missing persons cases. Additional technical assistance to formalize and implement a volunteer engagement program to support missing persons cases can be provided by the CRI-TAC.

The CRI-TAC offers many more no-cost training and technical assistant solutions in support of tribal law enforcement. If your agency is in need, the CRI-TAC team is here to assist.

Hilary Burgess, PMP
Project Manager, Programs
International Association of Chiefs of Police

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