Missing Persons

332.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy describes the procedures of the UCLA Police Department for accepting, reporting, documenting and investigating missing persons. Penal Code §§ 14200 through 14213 and §§ 14250 and 14251, as well as 42 United States Code 5779(a), specify certain requirements relating to missing persons.

332.1.1 DEFINITIONS (PENAL CODE 14213)
Missing Person Any person whose whereabouts are unknown to the reporting party including, but not limited to, a child taken, detained, concealed, enticed away or retained by a parent in violation of Penal Code § 277. Missing person also includes any child who is missing voluntarily, involuntarily or under circumstances not conforming to his/her ordinary habits or behavior and who may be in need of assistance.

At-Risk Includes, but is not limited to, evidence or indications of any of the following:

• The person missing is the victim of a crime or foul play.
• The person missing is in need of medical attention.
• The person missing has no pattern of running away or disappearing.
• The person missing may be the victim of a parental abduction.
• The person missing is mentally impaired.

Child-While California considers a child to be a person under eighteen years of age, for purposes of this section federal law considers any person under the age of twentyone years to be a child.

CLETS Missing Person System Report Types It is up to the officer taking the report to determine which type and category the report falls into.

(a) Voluntary Missing Adult Missing adult who has left of his/her own free will.
(b) Stranger Abduction Missing person taken by a stranger. Includes cases of a known abductor who is not a family member. If under 18, this information will be forwarded to the FBI’s Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit (CASKU) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
(c) Parent/Family Abduction Missing juvenile taken by parent or nonparent family member.
(d) Runaway Missing juvenile is reported as a runaway or is not wanted by his/her parents.
(e) Suspicious Circumstances Person missing under circumstances that may indicate foul play. If under 18, this information will be forwarded to the FBI’s CASKU and the NCMEC.
(f) Catastrophe Missing person is a victim of a disaster (e.g., boating accident, plane crash, earthquake, flood, fire).
(g) Lost Missing person who has strayed away and whose whereabouts are unknown. circumstances surrounding missing person’s disappearance are unknown.
(i) Dependent Adult Missing adult (over age 18) who has physical or mental limitations, which restrict his/her ability to carry out normal activities.

Officers may use discretion when determining the presence of risk based on experience, expertise and the specific facts and circumstances of each case.

332.2 REPORT ACCEPTANCE
All personnel shall accept any report, including any telephone report, of a missing person, including runaways, without delay and shall give priority to the handling of these reports over the handling of reports relating to crimes involving property. Reports shall be taken on missing persons regardless of jurisdiction. Penal Code § 14205 (a)

Patrol officers should handle the initial missing person report. Department personnel shall promptly assist any person that is attempting to make a report of a missing person or runaway. In cases involving a person at risk or a child less than 16 years of age, the Detective Division will begin an investigation after an initial search and investigation by patrol personnel.

The initial search should include an immediate, reasonable search upon and about the campus grounds with particular attention to likely hazardous areas (e.g., construction, excavations, roof tops, etc.) and Westwood Village locations such as bus stops, restaurants, theaters, arcades, etc.

Other initial steps include the following:

• Query the Los Angeles County booking system through JDIC, the booking system for the county the missing person resides in and the county the missing person was last seen to determine if the missing person has been arrested.
• Check the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner at (323) 343-0711 for the Decedent Report Desk or Investigations at (323) 343-0714, the Coroner’s office for the county of residence and the Coroner’s officer for the county where the missing person was last seen for the missing person, either by name or description. Provide the missing person’s description to the investigator so the investigator can contact the Department if the missing person is located at the morgue or a person matching the description is brought into the morgue.
• The READYNET alert system encompasses 82 hospitals in the Los Angeles County area. Use READYNETto quickly alert hospitals in the area since the missing person might be going to a hospital to seek medical help. The system also allows documenting the missing person so any hospital that contacts the missing person will call the Department. The telephone number is (323) 869-0578 and the fax number is (562) 906-4300.
• Contact the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Transit Services Bureau to notify them of the missing person information so the information can be relayed to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) buses and trains. The general information number is (213) 922-3560 or (323) 563-5000.
• Telephone the Mental Evaluation Detail (213) 485-4188, Los Angeles County USC Medical Center (323) 226-2345 and IRC (213) 893-5325.

– If the missing person is a juvenile, also check the Probation Intake (323) 226-8511, JAI (213) 485-2817, DCFS (213) 526-6757 or (213) 893-0504.

The Watch Commander and the Field Operations Captain shall be notified of all at risk missing persons including incidents after hours and on weekends. This includes any case of a missing child for which there is evidence or indications that the child is at risk, as specified in Penal Code § 14213 (b), or under 16 years of age. The Captain will determine when the Detective Sergeant will be notified.

332.2.1 INVESTIGATION DILIGENCE
Penal Code § 14205 mandates action taken by law enforcement personnel in the investigation of missing persons. The required actions include the following:

(a) Make an assessment of reasonable steps to be taken to locate the person.
(b) If the missing person is under 16 years of age, or there is evidence the person is at risk, the Department shall broadcast a "Be On The Look Out" transmission over the radio without delay within this jurisdiction.
(c) For missing juveniles, the detective will contact the California Missing Children Clearinghouse (MCCH), which maintains a tollfree telephone hotline (800)222-FIND to receive information and inquiries regarding missing children.

The MCCH relays this information to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. The MCCH may also be reached at (916) 227-3290 or at missing.persons@doj.ca.gov. The MCCH works closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to aid in locating children who have been abducted and taken out of California or brought into California. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is at (800) 843-5678.

The agency having jurisdiction over the missing person’s residence normally will handle the case after the initial report is taken, however Department members may assist in the investigation on a person who was last seen in this jurisdiction.

For missing juveniles, the detective will contact the Center for National Missing and Exploited Children.

332.2.2 AUTHORIZATION FOR DENTAL / MEDICAL RECORDS
When any person makes a report of a missing person to the Department a form shall be used that includes a statement authorizing the release of the dental or skeletal Xrays, or both, of the person reported missing and authorizing the release of a recent photograph of a person reported missing who is under 18 years of age. Penal Code § 14206 (a)(1)

Included with the form shall be instructions which state that if the person reported missing is still missing 30 days after the report is made, the release form signed by a member of the family or next of kin of the missing person shall be taken by the family member or next of kin to the dentist, physician and surgeon, or medical facility in order to obtain the release of the dental or skeletal Xrays, or both, of that person or may be taken by a peace officer, if others fail to take action, to secure those Xrays.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, dental or skeletal Xrays, or both, shall be released by the dentist, physician and surgeon, or medical facility to the person presenting the request and shall be submitted within 10 days by that person to the Police or sheriff’s department or other law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the investigation.

When the person reported missing has not been found within 30 days and no family or next of kin exists or can be located, the law enforcement agency may execute a written declaration, stating that an active investigation seeking the location of the missing person is being conducted, and that the dental or skeletal Xrays, or both, are necessary for the exclusive purpose of furthering the investigation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the written declaration, signed by a peace officer, is sufficient authority for the dentist, physician and surgeon, or medical facility to release the missing person’s dental or skeletal Xrays, or both.

332.3 REPORT HANDLING
Missing person reports require special handling and timely notifications. A reference chart is included in Policy Manual § 332.5.

332.3.1 TRANSMITTING REPORTS TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS
When the Department takes a missing person report on a person who lives outside of the Department’s jurisdiction, the Department shall promptly notify and forward a copy of the report to the agencies having jurisdiction over the missing person’s residence and where the missing person was last seen.

If the missing person is under 16 or there is evidence that the person may be at risk, the reports must also be forwarded within no longer than 24 hours to the jurisdiction of the agency where the missing person was last seen. Penal Code § 14205 (c)

332.3.2 ENTRY INTO MISSING PERSON SYSTEMS
When the missing person is at risk or under 21 years of age, the Communications Center shall enter the missing person into the California Department of Justice Missing Person System and the National Crime Information Center Missing Person File within two hours after accepting the report. 42 United States Code 5779(a) 42 United States Code 5780(3)

To assist the Department of Justice, the entry must note the case involves a person at risk or under 16 years of age. Penal Code § 14205 (b)

332.3.3 ATRISK
DETERMINATION If a missing person is under 18 years of age and at risk or under 16 years of age and missing for more than 14 days, the handling detective shall immediately submit to the dentist, physician/surgeon or medical facility the signed request for dental or skeletal Xrays or both. Penal Code § 14206 (a)(2)

In all cases the handling detective may confer with the coroner or medical examiner and may submit reports including the dental/skeletal Xrays within 24 hours to the Attorney General’s office through the CLETS Missing Person System.

332.3.4 MISSING MORE THAN 45 DAYS
If a person is still missing after 45 days, the detective must check with the appropriate coroner(s) or medical examiner(s) and send to the Department of Justice both Department of Justice forms and dental records along with a photograph and this must be noted on Department of Justice form SS8568. If dental records are unobtainable, this should be noted on Department of Justice form SS8568. Penal Code § 14206 (b)

The assigned detective should verify and update the required missing person databases within 60 days of the original entry of the missing person into the systems and within 45 days thereafter until the missing person is located. The initial followup entry shall not exceed 60 days from the date of original entry. The assigned detective must also make reasonable efforts to locate the missing person and document these efforts with a supplemental report at least every 45 days. These reasonable efforts will include, if the missing person is under the age of 21, maintaining a close liaison with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 42 United States Code § 5780(4)(a)

332.4 MISSING PERSONS LOCATED
The investigation may be concluded when the missing person is located or when another agency accepts the case and formally assumes the investigative responsibilities. The officer will complete a supplemental report to document the return of the missing person. If the missing person is located prior to completion of the original report, the officer may incorporate the information in the original report.

If a missing person is at risk or under the age of 21 is located, the detective must ensure that an entry is made within 24 hours into the Department of Justice Missing Person System and Missing Person File noting that information.

When all other missing persons are located, the detective must ensure that the Department of Justice Missing Persons System is updated within seven days.

332.4.1 OTHER AGENCY MISSING PERSON
Officers locating a person listed as a missing person by another jurisdiction, he/she shall contact the originating agency to ascertain the circumstances regarding the missing person and to determine if the agency requests the missing person held for them.

If the agency does not want the person held and the missing person is not is in need of medical attention or a danger to himself/herself or others; release the missing person, complete an FI and send a locate message to the agency.

If the person is gravely disabled or a danger to himself/herself or others, detain the person pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code § 5150, send a locate and write a report to document the hold.

332.5 REFERENCE CHART

332.6 SCHOOL NOTIFICATION
Education Code § 49068.6 requires law enforcement to notify the school in which the missing child is enrolled. The school shall flag a missing child’s record and immediately notify law enforcement of an inquiry or request for the missing child’s records.

332.7 DNA SAMPLE COLLECTION
In any case in which a report is taken concerning a person missing under high risk circumstances, the assigned detective shall, within no more than 30 days, inform the parents or other appropriate relatives that he/she may give a voluntary sample for DNA testing or may collect a DNA sample from a personal item belonging to the missing person, if available. Penal Code §14250 (c)

Such samples shall be collected in a manner prescribed by the Department of Justice, using a DOJ model kit.

After 30 days, the assigned detective shall verify the status of the missing person. If still missing, the DNA sample and a copy of the original report and any supplemental reports shall be sent to the Department of Justice for testing and inclusion in the DNA database.

332.8 MISSING PERSON RESOURCES

California Highway Patrol (800) TELLCHP [8355247]
www.chp.ca.gov/amber/amberen.html
Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center
(ENTAC) (916) 6578287
erchq@chp.ca.gov

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Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
www.oes.ca.gov
OES 24 hr Warning Center (800) 421-2921 or (916) 845-8911
EDIS Program (916) 845-8610
www.edis.ca.gov/
info@edis.oes.ca.gov

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Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice

24hr Command Center (916) 227-3244
Violent Crime Information Center (916) 227-3280
Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (916) 2273290, (916) 227-3270 (Fax)
www.ag.ca.gov/missing/missing.persons@doj.ca.gov

24 hour Missing Children Hotline (800) 222FIND [222-3463]
TRAK (916) 2272761
Investigative Services Program (916) 2274736
Sex Offender Tracking Program (916) 2273288
Office of Victim’s Services (877) 4339069
Crime and Violence Prevention Center (916) 3247863
safestate.org/index.cfm?navid=1

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (310) 4776565
www.fbi.gov/hq.htm

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National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (800) THELOST [843-5678]
www.missingkids.com/

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332.9 CLERY ACT COMPLIANCE
In compliance with the requirements for the Clery Act, UCLA students must be given the option to provide confidential contact information to the University for a person to be notified in the event the student is officially reported as missing. Higher Education Act Title IV, Section 485(j)

332.9.1 MISSING UCLA STUDENT
The Department shall accept any report, including a telephone report, of a missing UCLA student as outlined in this policy section.

332.9.2 NOTIFICATION
If the Department determines that a student for whom a missing person report has been filed has been missing for more than 24 hours, then within the next 24 hours the Department must:

(a) Notify the individual identified by the student to be contacted in this circumstance;
(b) If the student is under 18 years old, notify a parent or guardian; and
(c) In cases where the student is over 18 and has not been identified a person to be contacted, notify appropriate law enforcement officials in the local areas with a Teletype message or other similar measure

332.9.3 DETECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
The assigned detective should notify the UCLA Dean of Students Office and other appropriate UCLA entities such as the Office of Residential Life and also determine the individual identified by the student to be contacted in this circumstance.