Policy Text
I. POLICY:
The Atlantis Police Department has established
guidelines for the reporting of missing persons,
runaways, abducted persons, juvenile
escapees, and juvenile absconders. Although it
is not a violation of the law for a person to be
missing or to run away, it is imperative that an
investigation be conducted. The investigation is
conducted to determine the status and well
being of an individual who is missing from his or
her present place of residence or who has failed
to arrive at an expected destination within a
reasonable period of time. This Department will
not conduct investigations into those cases
involving adults missing without unusual or
suspicious circumstances or without foul play
being suspected (e.g., long-lost relatives,
adopted children seeking to locate his or her
natural parents, adults trying to locate their
previously adopted child, marital separations, or
missing friends). Those persons wishing to
locate persons who do not fit the criteria for a
missing persons investigation will be directed to
seek a private investigator. This Department will
respect the privacy of those located adult
missing persons who do not want their
whereabouts divulged to individuals, as long as
the person is of sound mind and the missing
person has not broken the law.
II.DEFINITIONS:
A.Absconder (Juvenile) - Any child who leaves any
place that he or she has been court ordered to. Note:
This may include his or her home or any other place
that is documented on the court order.
B.Child - Any unmarried person less than 18 years
of age alleged to be dependent or any married or
unmarried person who is charged with a violation of
law occurring prior to the time that person is 18 years
of age.
C.Committed (for the purpose of juveniles) - A
juvenile who has been committed by the court to a
Department of Juvenile Justice (D.J.J.) facility.
D.Court Ordered (for the purpose of juveniles) - A
juvenile who has been ordered by the court to reside
at a particular place and/or receive treatment at a
particular facility other than a D.J.J. facility.
E.Disabled - A person who is physically or mentally
incapacitated.
F.Endangered - Anyone who is suicidal or in the
company of another person who may cause harm to
the person.
G.Escapee (Juvenile) - Any child who has been
lawfully committed to a D.J.J. facility or is under the
control of a staff member of a D.J.J. facility and
leaves without permission or escapes from custody.
H.Involuntary - A person who is missing under and
circumstances indicate the disappearance was not
voluntary.
MISSING PERSONS
Distribution:
I.Missing Person -
1.Any person, without first giving notice of his or
her intention to leave, who resides within the
Atlantis City limits and is missing from his or her
usual place of residence.
2.A person who is known to have been within
the Atlantis City limits at the time of
disappearance and is missing under unusual
circumstances.
3.A person missing from a different jurisdiction
and believed to be within the Atlantis City limits
when notification is received from another law
enforcement agency.
J.Runaway - Any juvenile who intentionally leaves
his or her legal place of residence in order to be free
of control or restraint without the consent of his or
her parent or guardian.
K.Special Interest Codes (SPC) - Codes that are
entered into NCIC/FCIC by Dispatch Operations at
the direction of the investigating police
officer/person. These codes will alert the officers who
come in contact with a person who should be
considered dangerous, violent or has a medical
condition (Appendix A).
L.A Child is Missing’ communication network - A not
for profit organization which will provide immediate
dissemination of pre-recorded information to a
specific geographical area via telephone.
I.Amber Plan - The Florida Emergency Missing
Child Alert is a program designed to broadcast
critical information of a missing/abducted child
believed to be in danger, using the Emergency Alert
System (EAS), via radio and television.
J.Silver Alert - The Statewide Silver Alert is a plan to
aid local law enforcement in the rescue or recovery
of a missing elderly person who suffers from
irreversible deterioration of intellectual faculties.