NCJ Number
177661
Date Published
March 1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This analysis of missing persons in Australia focuses on the definition of a missing person, the tracing of missing persons by police agencies and others, the numbers of persons who become missing each year, the risk criteria police should use, resources for friends and relatives of missing persons, and potential improvements in tracing efforts.
Abstract
The discussion notes that definitions and estimates of numbers vary considerably. Police recorded nearly 24,000 missing person reports in 1985; these included absconders from institutions. About 7,000 were adults, and almost 17,000 were juveniles. About 250 persons are listed as missing at any time. All police agencies maintain a central index of missing persons. However, their administrative and operational arrangements concerning missing persons vary. Police officers apply formal and informal risk criteria in assessing the urgency of responding to reports of missing persons. Ways to improve the tracing of missing persons and the circumstances of runaways include continued promotion of missing persons days and weeks to increase public awareness, improved operational definitions of missing persons, and improved risk assessment criteria in police agencies. Other actions could include feasibility studies of the appropriateness and effectiveness of missing person support and information centers and encouragement of media coverage of this issue. List of 6 further readings