Policy Text
Field Services 1 of 8 7/03 (Rev 3/17)
Missing Persons
The purpose of this Order is to establish policy and procedures for investigating and
processing reports of missi ng adults and juveniles.
I. Requirements
NOTE: The Penal Code excerpts listed below are only intended t o provide reference
and significance to the Order. In many cases, Department polic y will exceed the
requirement established by law. It is imperative for employees to follow the Department
policy indicated in the subs equent paragraphs of this Order .
A. Penal Code Section 14205 requires:
1. All law enforcement agencie s to immediately assist any per son who
i s a t t e m p t i n g t o m a k e a r eport of a missing person or runaway
without delay, regardle ss of jurisdiction.
2. If the missing person is under the age of sixteen (16), or is
c o n s i d e r e d “ a t r i s k ” , t h e r eporting agency shall:
a . E n t e r t h e m i s s i n g p e r s o n i n t o t h e D epartment of Justice
M i s s i n g / U n i dentified Persons System (NCIC/MUPS) within
t w o ( 2 ) h o u r s o f a c c e p t i n g t h e r e p o r t .
b . B r oadcast a BOLO (Be on the Look-Out) without delay.
3. If the missing person resides in another jurisdiction, the reporting
agency shall notify the law enforcemen t agency in that juris diction
and forward a copy of the r eport without delay, and in the c ase of
an at-risk juvenile under the age of 16 years, within no mor e than
24 hours. B. Penal Code Section 14206 requires: 1. A form authorizing the rel ease of dental and skeletal X-ra ys, as well
a s a r e c e n t photograph (if under 18 years) s hall be provided to the
r eporting person at the time of th e report. The instructions sh all
s t a t e t h a t i f t h e m i s s i n g p e r s o n i s s t ill missing after 30 days, the
s i gned release form shall be submi tted by family members to the
appropriate medical facilities to obtain the records. If th e family
f a i l s t o a c t o r c annot be located, a peace officer may act to obtain
Field Services 2 of 8 7/03 (Rev 3/17) t h e r e c o r d s . The family shall submit the records within 10 days of
r e c e i p t . 2. The form shall also state t hat if the missing person is un der 18
y e a r s and is “at risk” or is under 1 6years and has been missing at
l e a s t 1 4 d a y s , the family shall take the form immediately to the
appropriate medical facility to obtain the records. These r ecords
and a recent photograph shall be provided immediately to the law
enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency may obtain t he
X - r a y s f o r a n “ a t - r i s k ” m i s s i n g p e r s o n under 18 years old. The X-
r a y s m a y b e s u b m i t t e d t o D O J w i t h i n 2 4 h o u r s . 3. If a missing person has been missing for over 45 days, the law
enforcement agency may subm it X-rays and a recent photograph to
D O J . C. Penal Code Section 14207 requires: 1. Immediate notification to DOJ when a missing person is fou nd, and
i n t h e c a s e o f a n “ a t - r i s k ” m i s s i n g p e r s o n o r a m i s s i n g p e r s on under
t h e 1 2 y e a r s o f age, notification within 24 hours.
2. Notification to the law enf orcement agency that made the i nitial
m i s s i n g p e r s o n r eport.
D. Penal Code section 14250 requires:
1. Notification within 30 days by law enforcement agency to par ents or
other appropriate relatives o f a high risk missing person that they
may give a voluntary DNA sampl e to be submitted by the law
enforcement agency to DOJ for in clusion in the DNA data base.
B. California Education C ode section 49068.6 requires:
1. Notification in writing to mi ssing juvenile’s school within 10 days. A
photograph shall be incl