Bill Overview
Title: BADGES for Native Communities Act
Description: This bill revises federal policies and procedures related to information sharing, reporting, and investigating cases of missing, unidentified, or murdered Indians. Among other elements, the bill requires the Department of Justice to (1) establish a grant program for specified entities (e.g., tribes) to implement changes to enhance their responses to missing person cases and death investigations of interest to tribes, and (2) work with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that federal training resources and culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs are available to tribal and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers experiencing occupational stress. The Department of the Interior must establish a five-year demonstration program for the purpose of conducting or adjudicating personnel background investigations for applicants for law enforcement positions in the BIA. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct specified studies, including a study on the evidence collection, handling, and processing procedures and practices of federal law enforcement agencies.
Sponsors: Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]
Target Audience
Population: Native Americans
Estimated Size: 7000000
- The bill specifically targets the Native American population, focusing on Native communities and tribal law enforcement.
- Native Americans across the United States, especially those involved with or impacted by missing, unidentified, and murdered individuals, will be affected by this bill.
- The bill aims to enhance responses and systems when dealing with such cases, thereby potentially impacting every Native American tribe and community.
- The involvement of tribes in the implementation of grant programs and enhancements indicates a direct impact on tribal authorities and organizations.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically targets Native American communities, which means it is critical to simulate responses from this group primarily.
- Given the budget constraints, the immediate impact might be limited, with more visible changes occurring over several years, especially in the areas of law enforcement and mental health.
- There may be indirect benefits to those living around or working with Native communities, although the direct impact will be higher within the communities.
- Consideration of a range of perspectives from those directly benefiting to those who might see indirect impacts can provide a comprehensive view of the policy's effects.
- The involvement of federal agencies and tribal authorities indicates coordinated effort; thus, improvements in safety and wellbeing may take time to materialize fully.
Simulated Interviews
Tribal Law Enforcement Officer (Pine Ridge, South Dakota)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy can help provide the resources we desperately need to handle these cases better.
- I've struggled with managing stress from my job, and access to culturally appropriate mental health resources could make a big difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Community Elder (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial we have better systems in place for when our people go missing. This policy seems like a step in the right direction.
- I'm hopeful that this will also help bridge the distrust between our community and federal agencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
University Student (Sacramento, California)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy leads to greater awareness and more support for the professional path I'm pursuing.
- Access to data is critical for justice, and it's good to see steps being taken in that direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Nonprofit Director (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The mental health support for law enforcement could have positive ripple effects into our community too.
- I think improving case outcomes will help address systemic issues that urban Native populations face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Teacher (Cherokee, North Carolina)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have seen the impact of missing persons on my community; these changes are sorely needed.
- Collaboration between tribes and federal agencies is essential for real progress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Nurse (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring access to culturally appropriate mental health resources is incredibly important.
- I hope this policy encourages more collaboration between healthcare and law enforcement sectors.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Attorney (Billings, Montana)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The changes to evidence handling and processing could improve justice outcomes for Native families.
- Having more streamlined and informed law enforcement is crucial to handle these matters efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Social Worker (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Building better support systems around missing cases is essential.
- I hope to see faster and more effective investigations with the support this bill provides.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Artist (Flagstaff, Arizona)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful the policy can help mend some of the communication gaps between tribes and federal agencies.
- Seeing our systemic issues being addressed gives me a bit more hope and inspiration in my work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Federal Program Analyst (Providence, Rhode Island)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy addresses critical data and communication issues that have long hampered effective responses.
- I believe these changes can lead to more comprehensive policy evaluations and improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $69000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The costs associated with grant distribution depend on the effectiveness of implementation and oversight.
- Long-term economic benefits are conditional on successful reduction in cases of missing or murdered individuals.
- Coordination among federal departments and tribal authorities is crucial for efficient deployment of resources.
- The cultural appropriateness of mental health programs can affect their uptake and success among tribal law enforcement officers.