52:17B-217 Actions relative to high risk missing person or child.

6. a. Upon a determination that a missing person investigation involves a high risk missing person or a missing child, the lead law enforcement agency shall take such actions as are specified in the uniform investigative standards for a high risk missing person or a missing child, as the case may be, as set forth in the protocol developed pursuant to section 10 of P.L.2007, c.279 (C.52:17B-221), and also may contact the Missing Persons Unit and request assistance. The Missing Persons Unit, in consultation with the lead law enforcement agency, shall determine whether the circumstances warrant a cooperative investigative effort. If the determination is made that a cooperative effort is warranted, then the Missing Persons Unit shall coordinate the deployment of additional State Police resources in support of the investigation.

b. The lead law enforcement agency shall promptly notify all law enforcement agencies within the State and, if deemed appropriate, law enforcement agencies in adjacent states or jurisdictions of the information that may aid in the prompt location and safe return of the high risk missing person.

c. Local law enforcement agencies that receive notification from the lead law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall forward that information immediately to their officers and members.

d. The lead law enforcement agency shall, as expeditiously as possible, prepare and disseminate a photographic information bulletin utilizing the Missing Child Alert System, or any successor law enforcement notification system the State may employ.

e. The lead law enforcement agency shall, as appropriate, enter all collected information relating to the missing person case to applicable federal databases. The information shall be provided in accordance with applicable guidelines relating to the databases, as follows:

(1) a missing person report, and relevant information, in a high risk missing person case shall be entered in the National Crime Information Center database immediately, but in no case no more than two hours after the determination that the missing person is a high risk missing person;

(2) a missing person report, and relevant information, in a case not involving a high risk missing person shall be entered within 24 hours of the initial filing of the missing person report;

(3) all DNA profiles shall be uploaded into the missing persons databases of the New Jersey Forensic DNA Laboratory and all appropriate and suitable federal database systems;

(4) information relevant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program shall be entered as soon as practicable;

(5) all due care shall be given to insure that the data, particularly medical and dental records, entered in State and federal database systems is accurate and, to the greatest extent possible, complete; and

(6) the State Police shall, when deemed appropriate and likely to facilitate a resolution to a particular missing person report, activate the Amber Alert program for the State.

f. If, after the dissemination of a photographic information bulletin utilizing the Missing Child Alert System information, the missing person is found, the lead law enforcement agency shall promptly disseminate an additional bulletin on the Missing Child Alert System indicating that the person was found.

L.2007, c.279, s.6.