Date of Award

August 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Wendelin Hume

Abstract

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Crisis/Missing and MurderedIndigenous People (MMIP) crisis calls attention to the ongoing issues with underreporting and violence against Indigenous people. As years have gone by, the rates of violence and disappearances have increased. The Women’s Wilderness webpage reports that in 2016, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) recorded around 5,712 cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and children; however, the database in the U.S. Department of Justice has only recorded 116 cases, highlighting a significant issue in MMIW reporting (Native Women’s Wilderness, n.d.). This study explores how jurisdictional barriers and reporting gaps can influence case outcomes.

This study will identify patterns in MMIW/MMIP cases, including perspectives on law enforcement and media perceptions of these cases. It will also look at demographic characteristics and geographic patterns. This study uses a quantitative analysis of data from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), along with original opinion data collected through an IRB-approved research survey that examined the public’s awareness and perceptions of the MMIW/MMIP crisis. The researcher contributed to the survey's development by creating MMIW-related questions. Participants were recruited through social media, conferences, tribal organizations, and word of mouth. Participants were also entered into a gift card drawing as an incentive to participate. This approach provides a statistical analysis and insight into the public’s perceptions of the MMIW/MMIP crisis.

This study also aims to handle Indigenous-related data respectfully. The federal resources used in this study are handled with care; the findings are used to prioritize Indigenous safety and public awareness, and the study focuses on systemic factors within the criminal justice system rather than blaming communities or individuals. A key goal of this study is to identify and understand any gaps in MMIW/ MMIP data.

Previous research has found that MMIW/MMIP cases are more likely to remain unsolved and often experience delays in investigations, which may be associated with jurisdictional barriers. The findings of this study showed geographic concentrations of documented cases, with the highest number of cases happening in Alaska and many western states. Most cases involved adults between the ages of 18 and 49. Opinion data also indicated that participants were familiar with the MMIW/MMIP crisis and viewed it as a significant issue. Participants also reported limited resources, jurisdictional barriers, poor media coverage, and poor law enforcement response as major barriers affecting MMIW/MMIP cases. These findings highlight the importance of improving reporting practices, data collection, and cross-agency collaboration, and continuing to raise awareness of the MMIW/MMIP crisis.

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