# Title 12 — Corrections, Parole, and Probation

## Chapter 12-68 — Missing Person Reports

### § 12-68-01. Missing person reports.

1. A report of a missing person may be made to any law enforcement agency in the state.
The law enforcement agency may not refuse to accept a missing person report solely
on the basis that:
a. The missing person is an adult;
b. The circumstances do not indicate foul play;
c. The person has been missing for a short period of time;
d. The person has been missing for a long period of time; or
e. There is no indication that the missing person was in the jurisdiction served by
the law enforcement agency at the time of the disappearance.
2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, if, upon receiving sufficient information from the person
making the report, the law enforcement agency that receives the initial report of a
missing person determines that a law enforcement agency in another jurisdiction is
clearly the more appropriate law enforcement agency to receive the missing person
report, the law enforcement agency that receives the initial report may refer the
missing person report to the more appropriate law enforcement agency. The
responsibility for the missing person report remains with the law enforcement agency
that receives the initial missing person report until the law enforcement agency in the
other jurisdiction confirms, in writing, its acceptance of responsibility for the missing
person report. If the law enforcement agency to which the missing person report is
referred is located within this state, that law enforcement agency shall accept or
decline the responsibility for the referred missing person report within twenty-four
hours after receiving the request from the initial law enforcement agency. The law
enforcement agency to which the report is referred may not decline acceptance of
responsibility for the missing person report without good cause shown and may not
decline acceptance of responsibility for the report solely on the basis of the factors
listed in subsection 1.
3. The law enforcement agency shall accept a missing person report in person. A law
enforcement agency also may accept reports by telephone or by electronic or other
media to the extent that the reporting is consistent with law enforcement policies or
practices.
### § 12-68-02. Notification and other action.

1. When possible, the law enforcement agency shall inform the person making the report,
a family member of the missing person, or other person who may be in a position to
assist the law enforcement agency regarding the agency's efforts to locate the missing
person about general information regarding the handling of the missing person case or
information regarding intended efforts in the case to the extent that the law
enforcement agency determines that disclosure would not adversely affect the
agency's ability to locate or protect the missing person or to apprehend or prosecute
any person criminally involved in the disappearance.
2. All DNA samples obtained in missing person cases must be forwarded immediately to
the state crime laboratory to perform a DNA analysis. The state crime laboratory shall
establish procedures for determining how to prioritize analysis of the samples relating
to missing person cases.
3. The law enforcement agency shall submit relevant information to the federal bureau of
investigation's violent criminal apprehension program as soon as is practicable.
### § 12-68-03. Prompt determination of high-risk missing person - Law enforcement

agency reports.
1. A high-risk missing person is an individual whose whereabouts are not currently known
and the circumstances indicate that the individual may be at risk of injury or death.

2. Upon the determination by the law enforcement agency that the missing person is a
high-risk missing person, the law enforcement agency shall notify the bureau of
criminal investigation. The law enforcement agency shall provide to the bureau of
criminal investigation the information most likely to aid in the location and safe return
of the high-risk missing person.
3. The responding local law enforcement agency immediately shall enter all collected
information relating to the missing person case in available state and federal
databases. If the responding local law enforcement agency does not have the
capability to enter this data directly in the state and federal databases, the bureau of
criminal investigation shall enter all collected information relating to the missing person
case in available state and federal databases. The information shall be provided in
accordance with applicable guidelines relating to the databases.
### § 12-68-04. Unidentified person or human remains identification responsibilities.

1. If the official with custody of the human remains is not a coroner or medical examiner,
the official promptly shall transfer the unidentified remains to the coroner or medical
examiner to examine human remains for the purpose of identification of the human
remains.
2. A coroner or medical examiner or any other person may not dispose of or engage in
actions that will materially affect the unidentified human remains before the coroner or
medical examiner:
a. Obtains samples suitable for DNA identification and archiving;
b. Obtains photographs of the unidentified person or human remains; and
c. Exhausts all other appropriate steps for identification.
### § 12-68-05. Attorney general to develop missing person procedural policy.

To provide guidance to law enforcement agencies in the state, the attorney general shall
develop a procedures manual, consistent with this chapter, relating to the investigation of
missing person cases. The attorney general shall distribute the manual to law enforcement
agencies.
