Policy 5/204.20 Missing Persons And Runaways Flashcards
Missing Persons and Runaways:
It is the policy of the department to conduct thorough missing persons investigations to ascertain the possibility of a criminal act, to quickly initiate searches to reduce the possibility of harm to missing persons, to identify and monitor “High Risk Runaways”, and to return missing, runaway, abandoned, or adductive children to their families as soon as possible or to the appropriate facility if they are victims of crimes in the home. True or False?
True.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
In compliance with the National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990, what is the waiting period for LVMPD to make a missing persons report?
The LVMPD WILL NOT require any waiting period to make a missing persons report.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
In accordance with the National Child Search Assistance Act of 1990 and the federally mandated Suzanne’s Law, entry into NCIC will be made under the following circumstances:
- All juveniles, 17 years old and younger, will be entered into NCIC within 2 hours of receiving the required minimum data elements.
- Missing persons 18 through 21 years old (even though legally considered adults) will also be immediately entered into NCIC in accordance with the federally mandated Suzanne’s Law.
- Adults may go missing for a variety of reasons. However, adults can only be entered into NCIC only if they have a disability, in physical danger, involuntary circumstances, victim of a catastrophe, or other suspicious circumstances.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
Entry into NCIC must be listed in one of the following categories:
- Disability (EMD)
- Endangered (EME)
- Involuntary (EMI)
- Juvenile (EMJ)
- Catastrophe (EMV)
- Other (EMO)
Missing Persons and Runaways:
The circumstances must also be part of the NCIC entry, which are:
- Abducted by a non-custodial parent.
- Abducted by a stranger.
- Adult – Federally required entry (for Suzanne’s Law entries).
- Runaway.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
Personnel taking missing persons reports (to include patrol officers) WILL obtain the minimum data elements and contact the Police Records Bureau, Teletypes desk (828–3745), to verify NCIC has been completed and to obtain the NIC number.
The minimum data elements are as follows:
- Name.
- Date of Birth.
- Sex.
- Race.
- Height.
- Weight.
- Hair Color.
- Eye Color.
- Date of Last Known Contact.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
All juvenile reports will contain the NIC number from NCIC.
If the juvenile is located, the report still must be completed and the NCIC record must be cancelled by contacting Police Records Teletypes.
Copies of all reports are available to the Office of the Attorney General, who acts as the Nevada State Clearinghouse for Missing Children. However, at their direction, LVMPD reports will only be sent to the Office of the Attorney General when requested.
True or False?
True.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
ALL missing person reports MUST be faxed or emailed to?
The SCOPE Section of the Police Records Bureau for entry into SCOPE.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
If a juvenile was placed or delivered into a facility by a governmental agency the call caller will be questioned to determine who is the parent, legal guardian or responsible party for the juvenile (i.e. Child Protective Services may have removed a juvenile from a home and placed them into protective custody, in a foster home, a group home, or a mental health facility).
Who is the responsible party that must report a missing person?
The CPS worker, the foster parent, or the group home manager is the responsible party, and the party that must report a missing person.
Missing Persons and Runaways:
In responding to a missing person call the patrol officer will:
- Respond and conducts a preliminary investigation for juveniles and adults. For missing children (21 years old or younger), uses the First Responder’s Checklist located in the Criminal Offense Handbook.
- Verify the minimum data elements for NCIC entry; name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, hair color, eye color, date of last known contact.
- Record in CAD comments when the minimum data elements were obtained.
- Immediately contact Police Records Bureau Teletypes desk to verify NCIC entry was completed and obtains the NIC number.
- Start ICR and ensure that a broadcast is made of the missing persons last known description.
- When a missing persons report involves a vehicle, the report taker will immediately call the Wanted Vehicle System Desk in Records Bureau.
- Contact a supervisor and notifies the Missing Persons Detail, if the case remains unresolved after completing the preliminary investigation and any of the criteria listed in the communications procedures is still applicable, The Missing Persons Detail will be notified during dayshift hours. After hours the graveyard CAYF detectives will be contacted if available or the on-call Missing Persons detectives.
- If the missing person is located, advised the reporting party to cancel the report by contacting the Missing Person Detail during normal business hours. After hours, cancellations will be made through the Records Bureau. If the missing person was entered into NCIC, a report will be completed even if the subject is located. In cases of juveniles, the narrative portion, must include the details of the juveniles disappearance (i.e. where, when, why and with whom the juvenile was located).
Missing Persons and Runaways:
In responding to a missing person call, the Patrol Supervisor will:
- Ensures that the ICR is completed with the NIC number included for all NCIC entries.
- If the missing person has not been located and any of the criteria under communications procedure #4a-g are met, the Supervisor will ensure that the missing persons detail is notified during dayshift hours. After hours the graveyard CAYF detectives will be contacted if available or the on-call Missing Persons detectives.
Parental Abductions:
In situations where a parent is claiming abduction by the other parent, there are other legal and jurisdictional issues that must be considered. Per NRS 200.359, if custody rights have been established by a court order, judgment, or operation of law then adverse party can be investigated as an abducting parent “if probable cause exists.”
The procedure is:
- A report must be taken from the parent and detectives will examine the facts and circumstances and determine if a crime was committed.
- The missing juvenile and abducting parent will be entered into NCIC.
- One major factor to consider if detectives need to be notified is whether there is a reasonable belief that the child is in immediate danger of physical harm in the custody of the adverse parent.
- Detectives will consult with the Nevada Attorney General’s office and cases of Parental Abductions for purposes of prosecution.
All cancellations of missing persons will contain the following information:
- Name, address, and phone contact of the citizen reporting the cancellation.
- Reason for disappearance if known.
- If cancellation is the result of field contact - location and circumstances of contact.
- If the juvenile was returned home, placed with CPS, CCJH foster home, or a juvenile facility.
- Cancellation of any related vehicle information.
On all cancellations of High Risk Runaways, the Missing Persons Detail or designee will be notified and may respond to interview the juvenile.
True or False?
True.
Missing Person Phone Cancellation procedure:
All phone cancellations received during normal business hours will be referred to the responsible investigative unit.
The Records Bureau will receive all other phone cancellations.
The employee receiving the call will verify, as much as possible, the authenticity of the call, and if satisfied, will complete the LVMPD 59, Cancellation of Missing Person and Runaway Juvenile.
If the authenticity of the call is questioned, the information received will be forwarded to the responsible investigative unit for follow-up.
