Daily update, Oct 21, 2026: DOJ reports results of a six-month FBI surge on unresolved violent cases in Indian country

• DOJ and the FBI said on Oct 20 that Operation Not Forgotten 2026, a personnel surge from April 1 to Sept 30 focused on unresolved cases in Indian country (priority on violence against women and children, including missing or murdered people), resulted in 118 arrests, 41 people charged federally, 25 child victims identified or located, and 72 weapons recovered. FBI agents conducted 990 interviews and 232 search operations. DOJ press release, Oct 20
• DOJ reports the surge supported 548 case investigations, 59% more than in 2025, and that arrests rose 123% and federal charges 52% over 2025. Personnel rotated through 12 FBI field offices. DOJ press release
• DOJ says the FBI has more than 4,000 open investigations in Indian country, including death, child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual abuse cases. DOJ press release

What this doesn't tell us: these are counts of enforcement activity reported by DOJ, not measures of crime levels, and charges are not convictions. The release does not report how many cases were resolved or the surge's cost, and year-over-year increases partly reflect a larger operation (more cases worked).

Sources: the link above. Watch next: 2026 federal sentencing guideline amendments take effect Nov 1 (see our Oct 16 update).

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