About the National Institute for Law & Justice
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons (NamUS) database, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 600,000 persons of all ages go missing every year, and approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered every year.
It’s no wonder law enforcement partners are struggling to devote the time they want and need to solving missing persons cases (and homicide cases). Families are forced to look for additional investigative help, and this can be costly. This is the very reason Mark and Kiersten founded NILJ as a nonprofit. Our goal is to ensure that each family does not have to pay out-of-pocket for much-needed investigative services. Generous personal and corporate donations as well as grant monies provide funds our services for families desperately searching for answers and hope.
Read more about our mission and vision below.
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Our mission is to provide funding for investigative services for crime victims and their families who are searching for answers, resolution, and closure.
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To create an organization that allows victims, their families, and loved ones the ability to present their individual cases for expert review, and when warranted, seamlessly bridge all financial gaps or prohibitions which might have otherwise existed, at no financial cost to themselves, to have their case professionally investigated with the sole purpose of discovering the truth, delivering justice, and ultimately providing closure to all those involved and affected.
HOW WE WORK
Our founders set out to create a nonprofit organization that raises money for much needed investigative services when cases go cold and that allows victims, their families, and loved ones the ability to present their individual cases for expert review. Funding is possible with the help of generous donors and grants, seamlessly bridge all financial gaps which might have otherwise existed. Families and victims will to have their case professionally investigated by Investigative Partners with the sole purpose of discovering the truth, delivering justice, and ultimately providing closure to all those involved and affected.
THE PROCESS
After a family or victim reaches out for help, their message is reviewed by Mark and the team in order to understand how we can best help. After reviewing the case, our investigative partners will discuss next steps.
Not only do we focus on helping to find loved ones and answers, but we strive to help fund services for family members that help them begin to heal from the trauma inflicted by the loss of a loved one.
Specifically, in cases of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, we honor traditions, practices and ceremonies specific to each tribal nation. We also partner with traditional Indigenous sciences practitioners during and after investigations in order to help promote healing.
To learn more about our initiatives, aka the types of cases we fund, please explore the categories below or in the main menu.
If you’re ready to reach out, please click the button below.
TESTIMONIALS
“What sets NILJ apart from other organizations is that they are committed and are passionate about doing the work of bringing our relatives home and investigating these cases. In their retirement these dedicated men are choosing to bring some sense of closure to these mourning families.”
“This is revolutionary. NILJ is exactly what we need. We’ve never seen anything like this before. Thank you.”
Homicide Cases
Missing Persons Cases
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives
