The Ohio AMBER Plan- the Amber Alert Plan is a critical missing child response program that utilizes the resources of law enforcement and media to notify the public when children are kidnapped.
Ohio Missing Adult Alerts- An alert system to quickly notify the public and media outlets about endangered missing adults, age 65 or older, or those with mental impairments.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, (501) (c) (3) nonprofit organization which was created in 1984. The mission of the organization is to serve as the nation’s resource on the issues of missing and sexually exploited children. The organization provides information and resources to law enforcement, parents, and children including child victims as well as other professionals.
Let’s Bring Them Home operates a national missing adults program: providing services and coordination between various government agencies, law enforcement, media, and the families of endangered missing adults, as well as safety education for all ages. (formerly known as the National Center for Missing Adults)
NAMUS- the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national centralized repository and resource center for missing persons and unidentified decedent records. NamUs is a free online system that can be searched by medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement officials and the general public from all over the country in hopes of resolving these cases.
Team Hope- The mission of Team HOPE is to assist families with missing, exploited and recovered children by offering peer support including empowerment, emotional support and coping skills from a trained volunteer who has had or still has a missing or exploited child.
A Child Is Missing- ACIM is devoted to assisting law enforcement in the search and early safe recovery efforts of children / the elderly (often with Alzheimer's) / disabled persons and college students via a rapid-response neighborhood alert program utilizing high-tech telephony systems.
Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organizations- Is an international association of nonprofit organizations, AMECO nurtures credible, ethical and effective nonprofit member organizations and provides a collective voice on issues related to missing and exploited children and their families.
National Runaway Switchboard- Are the federally-designated national communication system (hotline and website) for runaway and homeless youth. Youth and family members can call 24 hours a day to work through problems and find local help from social service agencies and organizations. Some callers just need someone to talk to; others need help finding a shelter, food, medical assistance, or counseling. Some callers are on the streets, others are struggling with other issues and we work with them to identify options to prevent them from leaving their home, when possible and if appropriate.
The following tips are intended to provide those seeking the return of a missing adult with direction on the action they can take to help.
- At the time you file a report, law enforcement may ask you to supply the following information:
- Missing person’s full name, date of birth and social security number
- Details on where they were last seen or heard from
- Details on any vehicles involved
- Details on any persons who may be with them
- Details on what the person was wearing and any unique characteristics
- A current photograph
- Be sure to clearly state the reasons why you believe the individual’s absence is not voluntary.
- Record the name, phone number and badge number of the officer who takes the report so that you can follow-up with additional information. It is a good idea to keep a record of all the law enforcement personnel you speak with regarding the missing person.
- Request a copy of the missing persons report that is filed and obtain the agency case number.
- Confirm with law enforcement that the case information has been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. This allows all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to access information on the case. Ohio law requires that this information be posted to NCIC immediately for missing adults age 18 to 21. For those persons older than 21, the information must be posted in seven days should foul play be suspected. If foul play is not suspected, the law enforcement agency has up to 30 days to enter the information in NCIC.
- Should you not be related to the missing person, it could be necessary for you to alert a family member of the missing individual so they can file the report with law enforcement. Some law enforcement agencies have policies in place that require the missing persons report be filed by a family member.
- Maintain a cooperative dialogue with investigators and law enforcement; share with them additional information you become aware of and ask them if there are ways you can assist.
- Ask law enforcement before disturbing items in the missing person’s residence. Make a video of the interior of the home to document how it appeared at the time the individual went missing.
- Talk with the missing person’s friends, co-workers, school, neighbors, relatives or others who may have information about the missing person. Ask them to let you know if they hear from the missing person.
- Retain personal items that were worn frequently, or that only the missing person would have used. These items should be placed in a paper bag and stored in a secure location.
- Talk with law enforcement about preservation of DNA through the Ohio Attorney General’s Project LINK (Linking Individuals Not Known). This program preserves DNA from family members of the missing person or intimate items owned by the missing person to help in the identification of unidentified human remains. Investigators should contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation for further details.
- Make a list of places the missing person often went to. Check to see if anyone at these locations has seen them.
- Provide law enforcement with information regarding the bank the missing person uses, who their dentist is and who is their home internet service provider.
- Retain the missing person’s cell phone and landline phone records.
- Get caller ID for your home phone and log all calls, even hang-ups.
- If the missing person is found let investigators know.
- Before taking any action that would share details about the missing person with the entire community, talk with law enforcement to make sure no information is shared that could hurt their investigation.
- Create and distribute a missing person poster.
- Posters can be distributed at many locations including malls, public libraries, hospitals, and businesses. Ask a manager for permission prior to posting or distributing your materials. You can also take them to other law enforcement agencies in the area.
- Ask law enforcement what contact number should be printed on the poster.
- Contact local media and ask them to tell the missing person’s story.
- Contact the National Center for Missing Adults to have information regarding the missing person posted on the national registry they maintain. They can be contacted at (800) 690-FIND.
- Ask law enforcement to post information about the case on the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Missing Persons website. Ask law enforcement to make this request by calling (800) 282-0515.
- In this traumatic time do not cut yourself off from others who can support you such as family, friends and clergy. Talk to your doctor if increased stress is affecting your health.
- Be careful if you are contacted by those seeking money to help in locating the missing person. These can include private investigators and psychics. Report information on these individuals to law enforcement.
- Should you choose to retain the services of a private investigator, you can check to see if any complaints have been made against them by contacting your local Better Business Bureau as well as the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section. You can check the Attorney General’s consumer complaint records on-line at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov or call (800) 282-0515.
- Media coverage can be very beneficial in missing persons’ cases, but it can also lead to unexpected attention for you or other family members. You may choose to set guidelines on when and where interviews will occur. Not all interview requests must be accepted and not every question that is asked must be answered. A family may choose to select one individual who is best able to tell the story of the missing person to serve as their spokesperson.