EDGEFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Subject
Missing Persons
Date
04-16-08
Applicable Standard(s)
CALEA 41.2.5
Amends
I.
Section No.
207
Page No.
1
No. Pages in Section
5
Rescinds
Re-evaluation Date
Purpose
To establish guidelines for the handling of missing persons complaints made through
the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office.
II. Policy
It is the policy of the agency to promptly complete, file and investigate any and all
reports of missing persons. Agency personnel should in no way discourage or
prohibit the filing of missing persons or missing child reports. Deputies responding
to such incidents should, without delay, ensure that necessary information is
disseminated to other deputies and law enforcement agencies, and that the filing of
reports is in accordance with criteria set forth by the appropriate criminal justice
information systems.
III. Definition
Missing Person - A missing person is one of the following:
1. A juvenile (under age 17) who is missing, or
2. Any person who is missing and has a proven physical or mental disability or is
senile, thereby subjecting himself/ herself or others to personal and immediate
danger, or
3. Any person who is missing under circumstances which indicate that his/her
physical safety may be in danger, or
4. Any person who is missing under circumstances which indicate that the
disappearance is not voluntary, or
5. Any person who is missing as a result of a disaster or catastrophe
(i.e. plane crash, hurricane, tornado, etc.).
MPIC (Missing Person Information Center) - In accordance with S.C. Code of Laws
23-3-200, a central repository for information regarding missing persons and missing
and exploited children, with special emphasis on missing children. This agency is
located in Columbia as a part of the state law enforcement division.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Subject
Missing Persons
Date
Section No.
207
Page No.
2
IV. Procedures
A. Initial Description and Information
1. Reports of missing persons shall be made immediately, there is no waiting
period in missing persons or missing child cases.
2. At a minimum, Deputies should obtain the following initial information on
a missing person:
a. Name;
b. Physical Description;
c. Date of birth;
d. Social Security Number (if available);
e. Clothing Description;
f. Time and place last seen;
g. In the company of (names, if available);
h. Vehicle Information (if appropriate); and
j. The circumstances of the disappearance.
3. In addition, Deputies must obtain documentation supporting the stated
condition under which the person is declared missing. Examples of
acceptable documentation include:
a. A missing juvenile incident report completed as a result of an
investigation by a deputy.
b. A written statement from a physician or other authoritative source
which corroborates the missing person’s physical/ mental disability
(i.e. Alzheimer’s patient).
c. A written statement from a parent, guardian, next of kin, or other
authoritative source which advises that the person is in danger.
d. A written statement from a parent, guardian, next of kin, or other
authoritative source which advises that the disappearance was not
voluntary.
e. No written documentation is required for entry into NCIC for persons
missing as a result of a disaster or catastrophe.
4. Complainants should be instructed to immediately inform the Sheriff’s
Office if the missing person is located.
B. Dissemination of Information
In accordance with S. C. Code of Laws 23-3-250, deputies taking missing
persons reports shall ensure that:
1. Missing person information is broadcast to all on-duty officers;
2. A statewide broadcast is initiated to all other law enforcement agencies;
3. Missing person information is entered into FBI/NCIC;
4. Notification is made to the MPIC through the statewide broadcast as
prescribed above.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Subject
Missing Persons
Date
Section No.
207
Page No.
3
Parents, spouses, legal guardians, etc. who request that the missing person
information appear in the law enforcement bulletin published by S.L.E.D,
or in the newspaper will be advised to contact the Captain.
C. NCIC Entry
Deputies taking missing persons reports shall provide the on-duty
communications operator with a copy of the incident report, NCIC Entry Form
and pertinent supplemental. Requests for NCIC entry should be made as soon
as possible by the reporting officer and must conform to regulations regarding
missing persons as set forth by the FBI/ NCIC.
D. Removal of Information from NCIC
When a missing person has been located and the agency has been notified that
the person is no longer missing, the deputy receiving notification shall file a
supplemental incident report and request communications personnel to cancel or
clear the NCIC notice.
E.
Follow-Up Contact with Reporting Persons
In all instances of missing persons, the Criminal Investigation Division will
ensure that the reporting person(s) (i.e. complainant) is contacted. Agency
personnel should verify the victim’s missing status, obtain any additional
pertinent information and may provide information on the status of the
investigation.
F.
Follow-Up Investigation and Search
1. The Criminal Investigation Division should work closely with
communications personnel to ensure that accurate and current files are
maintained on missing persons.
2. The CID Lieutenant or his designee shall:
a. ensure that any necessary follow up investigation is conducted, and
b. be responsible for coordinating any search effort that may be
conducted beyond the initial attempts to locate the missing person
conducted at the time the person is reported missing.
G. Additional Juvenile Procedures
1. In cases regarding missing or runaway juveniles, reporting deputies shall
ensure that:
a. there is no waiting period before accepting a missing child or
unidentified person report;
b. the report is entered immediately into the NCIC computer system; and
c. the parent/guardian is advised that they should contact the Department
of Juvenile Justice as soon as possible to sign a petition for the
issuance of a Family Court Pick-Up Order.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Subject
Missing Persons
2.
Date
Section No.
207
Page No.
4
The Communications Supervisor shall be responsible for verifying and
updating the original missing person entry no later than 60 days from the
original entry.
V. Amber Alert
1. Criteria for the South Carolina Amber Alert
a. There is reason to believe that the child has been abducted (taken from
their environment unlawfully without authority of law and without
permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian.)
b. The child is sixteen (16) years of age or younger, and there is reason to
believe that the child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or
death; or if the individual is seventeen (17) years or older, and there is
reason to believe the individual is at a greater risk of immediate danger of
serious bodily harm or death because the individual possesses a proven
physical or mental disability. (Documentation from individual’s
physician attesting to the physical/mental disability is required.)
c. All other possibilities for the victim’s disappearance have been reasonably
excluded.
d. There is sufficient information available to disseminate to the public that
could assist in locating the victim, suspect, or vehicle used in the
abduction.
e. Amber Alert will not be sent if the response to any of this criteria is
no.
2. Necessary Information
a. The initiating agency must have the missing individual’s name and
supporting information entered into NCIC.
b. After the missing person is found, the initiating agency must remove the
missing individual’s name and supporting information from NCIC.
3. How to Activate the South Carolina Amber Alert
a. The ECSO will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the abduction report.
This evaluation will be conducted by the Sheriff, Captain,
Criminal Investigations Lieutenant, and the Jail training Lieutenant.
b. When it is determined that a case meets the criteria to activate the
Amber Alert System, ECSO personnel will follow the guidelines
contained in the ECSO Amber Alert Activation Manual. (A copy of
this manual will be provided to each member of the Command
Staff, Sergeants, and Dispatchers)
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Subject
Missing Persons
Date
Section No.
207
Page No.
5
__________________________
Adell Dobey, Sheriff
VI. Documentation
South Carolina Amber Alert Information Form – ED/133
South Carolina Amber Alert Update Form – ED/134
South Carolina Amber Alert Cancellation Form – ED/135