WHAT ARE THE UTAH STATE MISSING PERSONS CLEARINGHOUSE ROLES?

The clearinghouse maintains a database of all Utah missing persons. BCI staff verify the entry of Utah missing persons into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer system by local law enforcement agencies. Clearinghouse staff also recommends that families of missing childern contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Childern. Families of missing adults and children can contact there local police department for DNA submission to the North Texas Health Science Center under the president's DNA initiative. For more information go to http://www.dna.gov/uses/m_person/kits

Operates Toll-Free Hot-line - The hot-line provides nationwide access. Clearinghouse staff members answer the hot-line during normal business hours. After hours, weekends and holidays BCI staff answers calls. The hot-line was primarly established for supplemental reports and for reporting sightings of missing persons. However, calls range from requests for informational materials such as child fingerprint ID cards, to information about actual missing persons and details regarding the recovery. Information on leads or sightings is forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.

State Link to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) - The clearinghouse networks with NCMEC, the 49 other state clearinghouses, Canada, the Netherlands and many other countries via telephone, and fax. This relationship ensures support between agencies when missing person reports lead investigations from one state or country to another. The relationship also insures that information from leads and sightings is sent to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Maintain Web Site - The clearinghouse is responsible for the information contained on this site about those unidentified or missing persons and resources available. Utah, by statute must publish a quarterly report distributing missing person information. This is done using the website.

Flyers - Upon request from law enforcement agencies or families, Utah missing persons clearinghouse creates flyers regarding specific cases. Copies of the flyers are distributed to local law enforcement agencies within the state and to the missing persons clearinghouse counterparts in other states.

Maintain Material - The clearinghouse maintains a variety of information for both law enforcement and the public. Information from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is available for all law enforcement agencies in the state. The clearinghouse retains a supply of brochures obtained from the NCMEC or put together by clearinghouse staff. These are available upon request to interested parties.

AMBER alert and Endangered Person advisory - The clearinghouse makes available, information on the website regarding current active Utah AMBER alerts or Endangered Person advisory's.

Utah Missing Person Clearinghouse Home Page