U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Reporting and Investigating Missing Persons: A Background Paper On How To Frame The Issue
NCJ Number
              255934

Author(s)
          Trisha  Chakraborty Ph.D.
Date Published

August 2019
Length
              14 pages
Annotation
              After reviewing the scope, reporting, data-collection, policies, and laws related to missing persons in the United States at all governmental levels, this report raises questions that should be answered in improving policies and practices related to missing persons.
Abstract
              In 2018, 612,846 missing person record entries were submitted to the National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC’s) Missing Persons File, a crime database managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Although composing the smallest portion of the U.S. population, the second highest number of reported missing persons (9,914 in 2018) were American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders. This circumstance requires that federal, state, and local laws, policies, and protocols frame the reporting and investigation of missing person cases. This paper notes that missing person cases are not necessarily caused by the commission of a crime. Although there are laws that require the reporting and investigation of missing children, there are no federal laws that require the reporting and investigation of missing adults. Adults have the right to choose to leave their established community without reporting that they are leaving. Regardless of the reason for the disappearance, however, family and friends of the missing person experience trauma that motivates them to determine what has happened to a missing loved one. This paper reports on resources to help find missing persons, including NamUs, which is a no-cost nationwide, centralized information clearinghouse and resource center on missing persons and unidentified and unclaimed decedents. Local, state, and federal policies that address the reporting and investigation of missing person cases are discussed. Questions are posed to guide policy discussions.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2016-R2-CX-0025


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Award
        American Association for the Advancement of ScienceScience & Technology Policy Fellowships
    
  
  
Date Published: August 1, 2019
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Research
        Missing children
        Violent crime
        Kidnapping
        Juvenile justice



  
Similar Publications
        
                      The Problem with Criminal Records: Discrepancies between State Reports and Private-sector Background Checks
                  Validating the National Violent Death Reporting System as a Source of Data on Fatal Shootings of Civilians by Law Enforcement Officers
                  Latent Fingerprint Interoperability Survey - Core Questionnaire
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov