What to do if a loved one in the USA disappears: useful contacts and resources - ForumDaily
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What to do if a loved one is missing in the USA: useful contacts and resources

The thought of missing a family member, friend, or someone else you care about can be intimidating. You don't know where they are, maybe they are injured or they need help. When this person is living with a mental illness, the situation becomes even more complicated. Quick action can be important, reports NAMI.

Photo: Shutterstock

Contact the police immediately

Provide the police with information about where your loved one is missing. If he remains missing for more than three days, ask the police to put him on the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) list as an “Endangered Adult”. This computer network provides information throughout the country.

If you make it clear to the police that this is a mental health problem, they can shorten the number of days for a person to be declared a missing person. The network will provide you with a police number that you can use when looking for a loved one. Be sure to write down the application number so that it can be easily tracked.

Upon discovery of a missing person with a mental illness over the age of 21, the police or other authorities do not have the right to detain him or her against his or her will, unless he or she has committed crimes and does not pose a danger to himself or others.

No one has the right to compel a person to seek help or medical care against their will unless there is medical custody or a court order specifying what action to take. However, you can still ask the police to tell you if they have found your loved one, even if they refuse to contact you.

Contact the friends and acquaintances of the missing person

Call other people close to you and ask when they last saw the missing person. Reach out to anyone who has had regular or recent contact with the missing person, such as colleagues, doctors and neighbors.

Register it in the National System of Missing and Unidentified Persons (NamUs)

Visit the site www.findthemissing.org and upload information about your loved one. This powerful resource will help you, law enforcement, medical examiners, and other members of the forensic community to enter the details of a missing person. You must include details such as a description of his appearance and where he was last seen.

Check out nearby hospitals, churches, homeless shelters, and libraries.
Be aware that some of these places may have privacy restrictions and you may not be able to find out if your loved one is there.

Print a one page flyer

Photo: Shutterstock

Create a missing person poster using samples available online. Save the poster in pdf format for use on the web or for print. Your poster should include:

  • two recent photographs;
  • name;
  • hometown plus state;
  • height, weight, age;
  • license plate and car photo;
  • the place where he was last seen;
  • phone number of the police department or investigator.
Check out social media or create a website

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other accounts of your loved one can provide clues that might point you to where the person is. Look also at the accounts of his friends on social networks. Create a Facebook page or website for the missing person.

  • For your website, use headlines like "Find John Doe" or "Missing Jane Smith". This will help your page rank in Google searches. Names such as "PleaseHelpFindJane" or "MissingMySonJohn" will also convey the message, but cannot be included in a large number of search results.
  • Post a recent image and specific information about your loved one, including the last outfit you saw on them, a description of their appearance, age and information about glasses, tattoos, etc. Where they were last seen and where they like to spend time.
  • Download your missing person poster in PDF format so it can be easily printed and published.
  • You should be careful about disclosing information that your loved one has a mental illness. You can simply say that he or she is vulnerable and under the supervision of a doctor.
  • Add a story about a loved one and additional photos that will be interesting and understandable to others.
  • Upload a video of yourself to YouTube or Facebook and make a video appeal.
  • Ask people to contact the investigating police department.
  • Contact your NAMI branch or government agency.
    Your NAMI partner may be aware of local resources and places to find loved ones. You can also get help with posting flyers and searching.
Notify local media

If the local media make a public announcement, the missing person may see the notification and decide to return home. This publicity may also encourage the police and others to devote more resources to solving the case. However, keep in mind that the media is not guaranteed to cover your story.

What should I do if my child disappears or runs away?

You should call the local police immediately. Provide them with a detailed description of his appearance, including what clothes he wore, where and when he was last seen. Federal law prohibits police from setting a waiting period before searching for a missing child.

Within two hours of receiving a missing child report, police must add information to the FBI's National Crime Information Center file on missing persons.

The federal and state governments, law enforcement agencies and organizations provide dedicated resources and services to find missing children or adolescents.

If your child is between the ages of 18 and 20 and is legally considered an adult but has a mental illness, the Suzanne Act (PROTECT Act 2003 provision) requires the police to use the same efforts and resources as to find a younger child. 18 years.

Then you should call National Center for Missing Persons and Exploited Children (CMEC) by calling 1-800-843-5678. CMEC will provide technical and case management assistance to ensure that all available search methods are used.

All tips and suggestions for finding a missing person are applicable to a person of any age, so we recommend using these strategies as well.

Resources for finding missing children

Center for Missing and Exploited Children
www.missingkids.org
24-hour hotline
1-800-843-5678

Lost people
www.facesofthelost.org
24-hour hotline
1-800-566-5688

National Rescue Line for Fugitives
www.1800runaway.org
1-800-786-2929

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