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Missing Person and Runaways
We understand that having a loved one go missing can be extremely overwhelming. There is no easy way to go through the disappearance of a loved one. Here are some FAQs, tips, and resources to help navigate this traumatic time.
A missing child or adult will be considered "at-risk" when one or more of the following factors exists:
- A missing child is 13 years of age or younger (National Child Search Assistance Act)
- Out of the safety zone for his/her age, developmental stage, or mental and physical condition
- Diminished mental capacity or suicidal tendencies
- Prescription drug-dependent - requires life or health-sustaining medications
- A potential victim of foul play or sexual exploitation
- In a life-threatening situation
- Absent from home for more than 8 hours before being reported to law enforcement as missing (missing for 8 hours is not a requirement for reporting)
- This includes cases where the parent, guardian, or designated caretaker delays reporting the child as missing for 8 hours or more
- Believed to be with juveniles/adults who could endanger his or her welfare
- Is absent under circumstances inconsistent with established patterns of behavior, and/or whose disappearance involves circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to conclude that the child should be considered "at-risk"
Although being a missing person or runaway is not illegal, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office takes these cases seriously and works for and wants the best outcome for each case.
The most important step is to contact your local law enforcement agency or the agency that is responsible for the area of your loved one’s last known residence. At the time you file a report, please make sure you have as many details as possible about the circumstances and descriptive information about your loved one.
Steps to take when a person is missing
Step One: File a Report
The most important step is to contact your local law enforcement agency or the agency that is responsible for the area of your loved one’s last known residence. At the time you file a report, please make sure you have as many details as possible about the circumstances and descriptive information about your loved one.
- Clearly state why you believe the person is missing.
- Get the contact information of the officer who takes the report.
- Ask for the agency case number so you can better reference the case in the future and/or request related reports.
- Contact any family / close friends that should be aware of your loved one’s disappearance. The investigating agency may need to speak with them at some point, so it is always a good idea to make sure they are aware.
Step Two: After a Report is Filed
- Keep an open line of communication with the law enforcement officers you speak with.
- Ask law enforcement before doing any of your own investigating (i.e. searching a missing person’s home, looking through their social media accounts, etc.). This could be harmful to the investigation.
- Get the word out to family and friends who may have information about the missing person.
- Contact the investigating agency before getting rid of personal items of the missing person that may be of use to the investigators (i.e. clothes worn often, mail, toothbrush or hairbrush, etc.).
- Talk with the investigating agency on how to provide family DNA samples.
- Make a list of places the missing person often visited and the names of people they talked to the most.
- Provide law enforcement with information the missing person uses, such as the name of his or her bank, dentist, home internet service, or cell phone provider.
- If available, retain cell phone and landline phone records.
- If the missing person is found let investigators know.
Adapted from: https://cbi.colorado.gov
Individuals under 18-years-of-age who run away from their parents or guardians are considered runaways. Runaways are not considered to have committed a criminal offense in the State of Colorado. When the JCSO is notified of a runaway, a report is completed and the information is entered into both the Colorado and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer systems.
Any deputy who comes into contact with runaway juveniles will be able to check the juvenile’s status through the NCIC information systems. Deputies making contact with reported runaways will take the juveniles into temporary custody, and will notify the parents or guardians.
Age of a minor: In Colorado, there are several classifications. According to state law, a child is “any person under 18 years of age” [Children’s Code]. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-103 (2010). A juvenile is “any person under 18 years of age” [Children’s Code]. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-1-103 (2010). A youth is “any person who is at least 15 years of age but is less than 18 years of age” [Homeless Youth Article]. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-5.7-102 (2010).
Runaway status: Colorado law classifies runaway youth as homeless youth. Homeless youth is defined as “a youth who is at least 15 but is less than 18 and who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or has a primary nighttime residence in a shelter, a temporary living institution, or a public or private place not designated for regular sleeping accommodations for humans.” Colo. Rev. Stat. 26-5.7-102 (2010).
Is running away a status offense: Running away in Colorado is not considered a status offense. Homeless or unaccompanied youth in Colorado are processed in the following way: “A runaway youth may be taken into custody without a warrant by a police officer. The youth may be declared a dependent child by the court. After a youth is declared a dependent child, the youth may be returned to the custody of the youth’s guardian or placed in an appropriate living situation under the guidance of the county Department of Social Services. A dependent child may be placed in the home of the child’s guardian or in the home of a relative, with or without court supervision. A dependent child may also be placed in the custody of a child care facility or the Department of Social Services.”
What to do next
Parental guardians are encouraged to take the initiative in locating a runaway by contacting their friends and acquaintances, and by checking locations the runaway frequents. Individuals who knowingly provide shelter to runaways without the consent of the parents or guardians can be charged with aiding or harboring a runaway, which is a misdemeanor. Disappearances of a highly suspicious nature may warrant a more involved investigation.
Tips for locating your runaway
Make a list of all friends, associates and classmates, and start calling.
Who is the boyfriend/girlfriend and where do they live?
- This lets your runaway know that you are hot on their trail and are serious about finding them.
- Last names, phone numbers and addresses are a great help if you have something you would like the investigator to help with.
- Many runaways have been trained by other runaways and will tell your child to take date books and photos with them or destroy them.
- The runaway may clear all telephone numbers from a cellular telephone databank so that you can't call their friends.
Keep track of who you have contacted, what they told you and when.
- Your runaway's friends will often hide the truth from you and investigators.
- Document the names of the parents and tell the parents that you absolutely do not give permission for your runaway to stay or live anywhere except home.
- Because running away is not a crime, court orders for cellular telephone records cannot be obtained. If the cellular telephone that your runaway might be using is in your name, you can get the call records without a court order.
Consider *57.
- If your child calls home, you can dial *57. This is an actual trace done by the telephone company. There is a small fee for each *57. (Approx. $2.00 per each trace request)
- After the call, hang up and immediately get a new dial tone before any other incoming calls and dial *57. Stay on the line and wait for the 1-800 number that you will receive from a message machine.
- Document the date, time, and telephone number that you used. This may not work on incoming cellular telephone calls.
- Call the investigator with the information. The information can only be released to a law enforcement agency and it requires a police PIN number and an active case number.
- Not all traces are successful. From some cordless telephone or rotary dial telephones use *1157.
List all the "hangouts" and activities of your child.
- You may know of several and the runaway's friends may give you more.
- Let the investigator know if the runaway has used or is using drugs.
- List what the runaway enjoys doing in his/her spare time.
- Has the runaway talked about places where they had fun?
List what the runaway took with them.
- How many changes of clothing?
- Any food or money taken?
- Cellular telephone with your child?
- Make-up or toys missing (CD player, video game systems, skateboard, bicycle, etc.)
Check telephone, computer / Internet access.
- Check the computer history. You may find that a bus ticket was purchased.
- Search for e-mails to friends and messages about running away.
- Check your long-distance telephone log.
Check with the school and any employers.
- The school will be glad to give you an attendance history.
- The school staff and security officers may know friends that you don't.
- Is your runaway expecting a paycheck soon?
- Are there work associates you are not aware of?
- What is the work history like?
- Unexcused absences from work?
Monitor your home.
- Many runaways will sneak home to steal food, money and get more clothing.
- Many times they do not come alone.
- Is there a way to secure your home and know if the runaway was there while you were at work or away?
Can I report someone as missing to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office?
- Yes. If you would like to report someone as missing, you must contact the law enforcement agency where your loved one resides. The JCSO has jurisdiction in unincorporated Jefferson County in Colorado.
- Once local law enforcement has been notified, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Missing Persons Unit can become involved. CBI assists local law enforcement and other partner organizations in locating and recovering missing children and adults. Per CRS §24-33.5-412, CBI manages the Missing Person Alert Program and functions as the clearinghouse for the state.
When or why does the JCSO use social media for a missing person?
- We take all factors into consideration on a case-by-case scenario. Some of the factors are:
- Are they an at-risk individual? (See definition above under "Missing Persons" tab.)
- Severe weather
- Qualifies as an Amber or Silver Alert
- If a missing juvenile is posted on the JCSO’s social media sites, his or her photo will be removed from social media once he or she is located.
For missing person cases, what does the JCSO do to follow up on an open case?
- After the initial report, the reporting deputy will have information entered into both the Colorado and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer systems.
- After the initial investigation and all leads have been exhausted, the case will remain in open status. As new leads or new information is brought to our attention, the JCSO will follow up.
Is a missing person a status offense?
- No. Although being a missing person or runaway is not illegal, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office takes these cases seriously and works for and wants the best outcome for each case.
National Resources
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): "NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation."
Team Hope with The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: "Team HOPE is a group of ordinary people who one day were forced to live every parent's nightmare; we have all experienced the trauma of having a missing or exploited child. We know the pain, fear, frustration, and loneliness that comes with having a missing or sexually exploited child. With this knowledge and experience, we are dedicated to offering compassionate peer support, empathy, understanding, kindness, and friendship to families who are still searching, have recovered their children safely, have located their children deceased, and families with children who have been sexually exploited. We are here to provide hope and walk the journey with other families."
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): "By bringing people, information, forensic science, and technology together, NamUs helps resolve missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases nationwide, while providing support to victims and their families."
Victim Services with NamUs Infograph: "The Victim Services Division (VSD) links families affected by the loss or disappearance of a loved one with service providers, support networks, and other resources to help them navigate the complex and difficult environment in which they find themselves."
National Runaway Safeline: "The National Runaway Safeline is the federally designated national runaway and homeless youth crisis hotline and online service in the United States. Resources available for youth and teens, concerned adults, and prevention and educational materials."
1800runaway.org: "A 24/7 hotline You can call 1-800-RUNAWAY, chat online, text or email. There is always someone available to listen and offer confidential, non-directive, and non-judgemental support."
Child Find of America: "Child Find has become a national expert in the prevention and resolution of parental and family abduction. Through our Parent Help program and training for parents and allied professionals, Child Find provides education, mediation, conflict resolution, parenting skill-building, and support services for families in crisis."
Child Watch of North America is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the prevention and recovery of missing, abused, and exploited children.
The ADAM Program "We quickly distributes missing child posters to police, news media, schools, businesses, medical centers, and other recipients within specific geographic search areas. The public can help in the recovery efforts by signing up to receive missing child alerts in their area."
When Your Child is Missing Survival Guide
State Resources
Colorado Bureau of Investigations Missing Persons Unit (CBI) assists local law enforcement and other partner organizations in locating and recovering missing children and adults. The unit manages the Missing Person Alert Program in Colorado and functions as the Clearinghouse for the state of Colorado.
Colorado Missing Persons Contact Form The CBI’s Missing Person(s) Unit is in the process of updating records to make sure the most up-to-date contact information for family, friends, and associates of missing persons in Colorado.
Victim Assistance for Missing Persons Cases CBI victim advocates will be available to help families locate support groups and other resources, serve as liaisons with law enforcement, or simply spend time listening and offering a compassionate response to your needs.
Colorado Alerts Statutes or applicable rules for AMBER Alert, Missing Senior Citizen Alert, Developmental Disabilities Alert or Blue Alert with FAQs.
Crime Stoppers programs are operated as not-for-profit charities and are managed by a volunteer board of directors who take responsibility for fundraising and paying rewards to individuals who anonymously call with information that helps solve crime. There are three programs across the front range: Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers, and Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers.
At-Risk Youth Resources and Programs in Jefferson County
Urban Peak works with homeless youth and youth at imminent risk of becoming homeless
Big City Mountaineer Single-Day Programs – offered in local parks, including hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, snowshoeing, and climbing. Used both before and after weeklong expeditions to begin and continue relationships between youth and adult mentors.
cityWILD's mission is to engage youth in experiential learning opportunities that boldly address issues of inequity in education, economic opportunity, and access to the outdoors
Colorado Youth At Risk is conducted in partnership with Denver Public Schools and is a one-year intensive dropout prevention program for 9th-grade students
Community Resources Inc Works with community volunteers to provide thousands of classroom programs, family involvement events, mentorships, and special events for at-risk students in Denver
Jefferson County Public Health "Jefferson County Public Health provides in-depth, one-on-one care coordination for families of children (birth to 21 years) who have special health care needs. Examples of care coordination include: assistance with identifying local services, finding insurance or other financial resources, and supporting important transitions such as from hospital to home or from child to adult care."
Colorado Wellness Center for Girls "CWCG serves girls ages 12-21 who are experiencing anxiety, depression and/or sadness, withdrawing from daily activities and others, feeling isolated, detached, and/or scared, struggling with decreased self-esteem and self-confidence, demonstrating a decline in grades, decreased interest in hobbies, drug/alcohol use, self-injurious behaviors, and increase the use of negative websites and social media."
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless: strives to help end homelessness in Denver and offers many services to help you and your family.
Be sure to lean on others during this time. It may be traumatic and having a support system can help tremendously.
Be aware of those seeking money to assist in locating your loved ones. These people can include private investigators, psychics, and others. Report information on these individuals to law enforcement if you are contacted.
Media attention can be an extremely useful tool in missing person cases; however, it can also take a toll on you. Set boundaries. You do not need to accept every media request or answer every question.
If you have a loved one who is missing, you are considered a co-victim of that incident. Victim Advocates are here to offer support, assistance, compassion, and understanding. You can ask the investigating agency to be put in contact with their victim advocate or contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Victim Assistance Program at 303-239-4649 (303-239-4312 Spanish).
Source: https://cbi.colorado.gov/