Section 43.401

Title V MILITARY AFFAIRS AND POLICE

Chapter 43

Effective - 28 Aug 2023, 3 histories   

  43.401.  Reports, information to be included, entry of data into computer systems — report to be maintained as record during investigation — removal of record, when — missing child complaint, requirements. — 1.  The reporting of missing persons by law enforcement agencies, private citizens, and the responsibilities of the patrol in maintaining accurate records of missing persons are as follows:

  (1)  A person may file a complaint of a missing person with a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.  The complaint shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:

  (a)  The name of the complainant;

  (b)  The name, address, and phone number of the guardian, if any, of the missing person;

  (c)  The relationship of the complainant to the missing person;

  (d)  The name, age, address, and all identifying characteristics of the missing person;

  (e)  The length of time the person has been missing; and

  (f)  All other information deemed relevant by either the complainant or the law enforcement agency;

  (2)  A report of the complaint of a missing person shall be immediately entered into the Missouri uniform law enforcement system (MULES) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system by the law enforcement agency receiving the complaint, and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies who may come in contact with or be involved in the investigation or location of a missing person;

  (3)  A law enforcement agency with which a complaint of a missing child has been filed shall prepare, as soon as practicable, a standard missing child report.  The missing child report shall be maintained as a record by the reporting law enforcement agency during the course of an active investigation;

  (4)  Upon the location of a missing person, or the determination by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction that the person is no longer missing, the law enforcement agency which reported the missing person shall immediately remove the record of the missing person from the MULES and NCIC files.

  2.  No law enforcement agency shall prevent an immediate active investigation on the basis of an agency rule which specifies an automatic time limitation for a missing person investigation.

  3.  Any agency or placement provider, parent, or guardian with the care and custody of a child who is missing shall file a missing child complaint with the appropriate law enforcement agency within two hours of determining the child to be missing.  The law enforcement agency shall immediately submit information as to the missing child to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) including, but not limited to, the name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, and eye and hair color of the child; a recent photograph of the child; and the date and location of the last known contact with the child.  The law enforcement agency shall institute a proper investigation and search for the missing child and maintain contact with the agency or placement provider making the missing child complaint.  The missing child's entry shall not be removed from any database or system until the child is found or the case is closed.

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(L. 1988 H.B. 1272, et al., A.L. 1994 S.B. 661, A.L. 2018 H.B. 1456, A.L. 2023 S.B. 186)