H.B.15 reestablishes the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Task Force in Utah.
Utah has the 9th highest number of crimes against Indigenous women in the country. These crimes are disproportionately underreported and lack the data necessary to address this issue. Additionally, there remains a serious distrust between law enforcement and Indigenous communities. Right now, Utah can set a national standard for the treatment of Indigenous people.
This legislative session, Utah can protect the lives of our Indigenous sisters. Utah must advocate for the support of H.B.15.
Underreporting and Lack of Data
Crimes against Indigenous women go severely underreported.
Reported crimes often face dismissal by law enforcement. Out of 5,712 cases reported in 2016, only 116 were logged into the Department of Justice.
Underreporting and failure to log crimes leads to a severe gap in data. In a study conducted by the Urban Indian Health Institute, surveyors wished to get accurate data about crimes against Indigenous women. Out of 50 states, they were only able to get data from 21 of them. That is less than 50 percent.
With this lack of data, it’s likely the amount of missing and murdered native women is even higher. Indigenous women have been failed by the system meant to protect them time and time again.
Reinstating the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women task force holds legal agencies accountable. It ensures law enforcement does not just drop these cases but instead pursues them to the same extent as other violent crimes.
In supporting this bill, Utah is likely to see more accurate data reflecting crimes against native women. This allows for better crime statistics that protect the state as a whole, not just Indigenous communities.
Voting against H.B. 15 exhibits a lack of care toward the lives of Indigenous women. It means to support the continuation of judicial malpractice. It enables law enforcement to continue the dismissal of murder.
There has long been a need for intervention. Utah can make the first steps in the right direction by holding law enforcement accountable. To do so, representatives must vote in favor of H.B.15.
Community Healing
There is a long-standing history of mistrust between Indigenous communities and law enforcement. This factor is partially responsible for the underreporting of crimes against Indigenous individuals.
The root of this mistrust stems deep. Putting aside the layers of betrayal by the government towards Indigenous communities, there are years of racism and violence towards these people from the very law enforcement sworn to protect them.
Because of these prejudices, Native Americans are overrepresented in prison populations. Indigenous communities have an extremely justifiable reason to believe that police do not have their best interest in mind.
In an interview with an indigenous student Porter, who wished not to disclose their surname, they said, “I like to have trust in people that are good, but … I don’t think I’ve ever felt safe, but that’s kind of something that happens all the time.”
Porter believes that the police act in good faith, but their fear still exists.
This tension must be addressed. Both sides need to be able to work cohesively, not against one another, to get to the root of these crimes.
H.B.15 allows Utah to switch this narrative. Reinstating a task force dedicated to crimes against Indigenous communities shows Utah is ready to change.
While it may not undo the years of prejudice Indigenous peoples have felt from the government, it’s a necessary step towards amends that must be made. Support for this bill shows Native communities that Utah is on their side.
To mend the relationship between these two groups, it is dire that Utah supports H.B.15.
National Pressure
Utah is a leader in progress and industry. Decisions made in this state have country-wide impacts. Indigenous groups across the nation will be eagerly awaiting this ruling.
Creating a task force in Utah dedicated to the MMIW crisis has the potential to set a national standard. With lack of data being a primary concern, it is essential that more states take action. The more data surfacing from nationwide involvement, the more information is available to law enforcement to effectively bring Indigenous groups justice.
In 2021, Washington established their own Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women task force. In the years following, Washington State saw an increase in state funding for DNA testing of unidentified remains, improvements in data collection and newly required status reports on these cases.
The following year, leaders in Washington installed the Missing Indigenous Person Alert. As of October 2024, this alert has been used 114 times. In all but 13 of these cases, the person missing has been located.
The MMIW task force in Washington has saved 101 lives. Utah has the opportunity to replicate this success. Our representatives can influence state leaders to do more for their Indigenous communities.
Utah’s representatives have the power to invoke a nationwide change. This change begins with voting in favor of H.B.15.
In the same interview, Porter brings up another invaluable point. They said, “[people] don’t look at the victims that are still here, that are still dealing with the consequences of what just happened to them. It’s still not being told.”
Porter is right. There is still so much work that needs to be done. We must come together to not only bring justice to our Indigenous sisters but to provide resources that support surviving victims.
Indigenous communities are invaluable. It’s time we treat them as such.
chansen@dailyutahchronicle.com