Operation Lady Justice is a new federal task force that focuses on the many missing and murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, in particular women and children.
The National Institute of Justice has shown that 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native Women experience violence in their lifetime. This group was discovered to have a 10 times higher rate of murder than the national average by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Established in November of 2019, efforts have been underway to address this tragedy befalling Native American communities.
Within the Lady Justice Operation, a division has developed dedicated to helping solve the many unsolved cases — cold cases — of mostly missing and murdered women and children.
Grants are also being issued by the DOJ to help improve the over-all safety in all Native American Nations.
The task force works with tribes to collaborate and help improve investigations, data sharing and all-around seamless communications to uncover the facts and restore justice.
ARTWORK of Lady Justice was created by D.G. Smalling of the Choctaw Nation. In his own words:
“She carries a shield of inter-locking arms as a symbolism of a battle standard to protect our people (and) under her shield we can reclaim our Native communities.”
Author
Kristen Farquhar
Photo: Art by D.G. Smalling of Choctaw Nation