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SACRAMENTO (November 22, 2024) – The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) approved the release of over $12.9 million in grant funding through the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Grant.

The MMIP Grant supports federally recognized Indian tribes in California in efforts to identify, collect case-level data, publicize, and investigate and solve cases involving missing and murdered indigenous people. Grant funds may be used to develop culturally-based prevention strategies, strengthen responses to human trafficking, and improve cooperation and communication on jurisdictional issues between tribes and law enforcement. The amount of funding available through the MMIP RFP for this third round of funding is over $12.9 million.

According to the National Institute of Justice, 83% of American Indian and Alaska Native women and men—which equates to over 2.9 million people—have experienced violence in their lifetime, with one in three experiencing violence in the last year. Nationally, those numbers are 52% higher than the general population. As noted by Governor Newsom’s Native American Heritage Month proclamation, California is home to the largest population of Native Americans in the United States.

“The MMIP funding helps strengthen our tribal communities by supporting efforts to respond to key issues such as violence prevention, human trafficking, and solving cases,” said BSCC Board Chair Linda Penner. “It is an honor to be able to release this funding opportunity during Native American Heritage Month.”

The MMIP Grant funding was first awarded in 2023, with the third-round release bringing the total funding to over $35 million statewide. Prior grantees have utilized the funding for a variety of educational/awareness resources, community healing activities, culturally centered interventions, and victim assistance, among others. Earlier this year, the grant funding was utilized by the Yurok Tribal Court’s To’Kee Skuy’ Soo Ney-Wo-Chek Project in the organization of the “Walk for MMIP Awareness Day 2024,” with over 200 community members participating.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend virtual informational sessions on applying for grant funding. MMIP Grant Information Sessions are scheduled January 16, 2025 and March 5, 2025. BSCC staff will also continue extensive outreach to the tribal community to ensure awareness and encourage participation. There are opportunities for both small and large scope projects, as well as collaborative awards for tribes joining efforts between tribes or local law enforcement. More information on the BSCC MMIP Grant can be found at Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Grant Program.

The BSCC, among other activities, administers of a wide range of public safety, reentry, violence reduction, and rehabilitative grants to state and local governments and community-based organizations. More information on the BSCC can be found by visiting www.bscc.ca.gov or by contacting Communications Director Jana Sanford-Miller, at Jana.Sanford-Miller@bscc.ca.gov..

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