Colorado § 24-33.5-2602 - Missing and murdered indigenous relatives - department duties.

§ 24-33.5-2602. Missing and murdered indigenous relatives - department duties.

(1) The department shall improve the investigation of missing and murdered indigenous relative cases and address injustice in the criminal justice system's response to the cases of missing and murdered indigenous relative cases. The executive director shall assign staff as necessary to carry out the duties described in this part 26 and may assign the duties to the various divisions and offices in the department, including the office of liaison for missing and murdered indigenous relatives and the Colorado bureau of investigation.

(2) The department shall:

(a) Facilitate technical assistance and work with tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on missing persons investigations and homicide cases involving indigenous victims;

(b) Develop a best practices protocol for law enforcement response to reports of missing indigenous people;

(c) Conduct case reviews and report on the results of case reviews for the following types of missing or murdered indigenous relatives cases:

(I) Cold cases for missing indigenous people; and

(II) Death investigation review for cases of indigenous people ruled as suicide or overdose under suspicious circumstances;

(d) Develop and enhance partnerships with tribal law enforcement and communities to build trust, ensure ease of reporting, coordinate investigations, and timely enter information regarding missing and murdered indigenous relatives into relevant criminal justice databases;

(e) Work with the federal bureau of investigation on reported missing or murdered indigenous relative cases and coordinate with local law enforcement as necessary for the investigation of the cases;

(f) Update tribal law enforcement agencies on the status of cases involving a missing or murdered member of the tribe;

(g) Coordinate, as relevant, with the federal bureau of Indian affairs' cold case office established as part of its operation lady justice initiative, other federal efforts, and efforts in neighboring states to investigate cold cases involving missing or murdered indigenous relatives. This subsection (1)(g) pertains to state and federal investigative efforts. Tribes are sovereign nations that have the right to determine if and how they will coordinate any investigative efforts.

(h) Coordinate with other state and local offices including, but not limited to, agency tribal liaisons, the Colorado commission of Indian affairs, and county coroners to develop training and education on missing or murdered indigenous persons issues, spiritual practices or ceremonies pertaining to human remains of an indigenous person, and the government-to-government relationship between the state and tribes;

(i) Work with the peace officer standard and training board to facilitate training for law enforcement and members of the public on issues relating to missing or murdered indigenous persons;

(j) Develop best practices for data accuracy and procedures to update records when indigenous victims are incorrectly identified in reports and recommend policies and best practices for maintaining accurate data and correcting victim identity inaccuracies in reports to relevant tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and any other relevant government agencies;

(k) Coordinate with other states to ensure Colorado is enacting and using best practices for reporting, tracking, and investigating missing or murdered indigenous relatives cases and to identify cases involving repeat offenders;

(l) Recommend to the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee, or their successor committees, and any relevant law enforcement agencies, legislative and agency actions to address injustice in the criminal justice system's response to the cases of missing or murdered indigenous relatives;

(m) Develop recommendations and facilitate training to strengthen the trauma-informed and victim-centered response of law enforcement, courts, and the health-care system as to the cause of violence against indigenous survivors and make the recommendations available to interested organizations, relevant tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and any other relevant agencies;

(n) Assist families, tribal agencies, and nongovernmental entities in using the national missing and unidentified persons system administered by the national institute of justice within the United States department of justice, and other resources;

(o) Provide guidance to families of indigenous victims on how to navigate state and federal district court cases;

(p) Inform indigenous community members and family members about active community-led grassroots or volunteer collaborations that are organizing or conducting search efforts, support groups, or other supportive efforts that are relevant to the community's or family member's missing or murdered indigenous relative; and

(q) Consult with indigenous-led community organizations that serve indigenous populations to promote, and develop best practices for promoting, community relations with indigenous populations.

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (SB 22-150), ch. 466, p. 3310, § 2, effective June 8.