On Missing Persons

It depends if the case meets the criteria created by the California Highway Patrol. If the missing person meets the requirements, the Missing Persons Unit will initiate an AMBER alert on a case-by-case basis.

• It has been confirmed that an abduction has occurred, or the child has been taken by anybody including, but not limited to, parents and/or guardians;
• The victim is 17 years of age or younger, or of proven mental or physical disability;
• There is a reason to believe the victim is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death;
• There is information available that, if disseminated to the general public, could assist in the safe recovery of the victim.

No, privacy laws protect adult persons. Juveniles found are exempt, and the reporting party will be contacted when a juvenile is located.

No, there is no waiting period to report a person missing.

Yes, this also gives the officers the chance to conduct a preliminary investigation, and a head start to locate the missing person. The Missing Persons Unit highly recommends a welfare check before reporting a person missing.

Staff from the missing person unit will generally contact the reporting party when they begin working the case to check for any additional leads or information that might have been missed. However, if there is pertinent additional information to the case, the reporting person can directly call and speak with the investigator.

This depends. On a case-by-case basis, the investigator may be in contact with the reporting party. However, a missing person case is an open confidential investigation, so real-time updates are not allowed per privacy laws.

This depends. This should be decided after discussion with the investigator, so there is no conflict with the investigation. A funds verification process is required. Investigators can assist with the process.

This depends. Once the information has been verified, the investigator would discuss and coordinate with the reporting party and include the Public Information Unit.

Yes, and please make sure it is a current photograph and not edited with social media filters. Please provide as many current pictures as possible.

Yes, however, do not put your personal contact information and make sure the investigator knows about the flyers. We suggest creating an email dedicated to the missing person to be listed on the flyers for contact. Please discuss contact phone numbers with the missing person investigator.

Further, when posting on social media about the missing person, please coordinate with the investigator for the most effective campaign.