Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People in Washington (MMIWP)

Follow all the steps for reporting the person as missing that are detailed in the Missing Persons Toolkit from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. You should report them as missing immediately. Report them to the law enforcement agency in the place where the person was last seen. 

Don’t wait. You can file a report as soon as you think your loved one is missing – there’s no waiting period in Washington. It’s an emergency if someone is missing. Call 9-1-1 to file a missing person report as soon as you can. 

You should call the law enforcement in the place where the missing person was last seen. If you don’t know which law enforcement agency to call because of tribal jurisdictional issues, you might need help. You can use the Jurisdictional Assessment Tool and MMIW Database of Response Contacts from the MMIW Toolkit for Understanding and Responding to MMIW for Families and Communities.

There are special steps for reporting a minor as missing but you should still report the person as missing immediately. Ask the law enforcement officer to enter the person into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Persons File. There are other important things you must do if the missing person is under the age of 18.

First, you should call 9-1-1 and file a missing person report. You can also try to contact your local tribal police to file a report. 

After you file a missing person report, there are other important things to do immediately after a Native loved one goes missing. The National Indigenous Women's Resource Center's quick reference guide can help you learn what to do in the first few days after someone you loves goes missing. 

Follow the steps in this printable fillable workbook from the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center that helps Native families and communities as they search for missing loved ones. It has practical, step-by-step information and forms for anyone searching for a missing loved one.

After you’ve filed the missing person report, try to get your loved one’s photo on the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Missing Person’s website. There’s a specific site for Missing Indigenous Persons that includes information about who to contact to get your loved one listed. You might have to be a family member of the missing person to get them listed on the WSP site.

You might be able to have the Washington Attorney General’s office share the flyer and other information about your missing loved one on their social media. You can send your flyer and questions via email.

You can sign up online for any of the various WSP Missing person alerts, including the Missing Indigenous Persons alerts.

You can get support at a monthly MMIWP Family Support Talking Circle hosted by the Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force.

Your tribe might be able to help or might have culturally specific support programs.

Washington has a new MMIWP Cold Case Unit at the Washington Attorney General’s office. You can contact the Unit by:

• Phone: 1-844-770-7900
• Email: crjmmiwp@atg.wa.gov 

You can make anonymous reports to the MMIWP Cold Case Unit.

The Washington State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force has a helpful information page that includes a calendar of upcoming MMIWP Task Force activities and reports.

The Indigenous Sexual Assault and Abuse Clearinghouse (ISAAC) has more information about MMIWP and various reports.