State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > New-jersey > Title-52 > Section-52-17b > 52-17b-9-852:17B-9.8 Powers, duties of unit.
3.In addition to any other powers and duties vested in it by law or by the Attorney General, the unit shall:
a.Coordinate, file and investigate all missing persons cases in this State, and cooperate with local law enforcement officials and federal law enforcement officials in the creation of a centralized office on missing persons in this State;
b.(Deleted by amendment, P.L.2007, c.39).
c.Collect and maintain data on missing persons and unidentified bodies in this State and throughout the United States;
d.Coordinate efforts with other states and with the federal government in the investigation of cases involving missing persons or unidentified bodies;
e.Provide specialized training to law enforcement officers and medical examiners in this State, in conjunction with the Police Training Commission, which would enable them to more efficiently handle the tracing of missing persons and unidentified bodies on the local level;
f.Employ the services of local law enforcement agencies or other social or governmental agencies.
L.1983, c.467, s.3; amended 2007, c.39, s.6.
52:17B-9.8a."Missing child" defined
1.As used in sections 1 through 3 of this act:
"Missing child" means a person under 18 years of age reported to a law enforcement agency as being abducted, enticed away, taken, missing or a runaway.
L.1995,c.395,s.1.
52:17B-9.8b.Notification of school district; records
2. a. Upon the receipt of a report of a missing child, the Missing Persons Unit established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1983, c.467 (C.52:17B-9.7) shall notify the superintendent of the school district where the missing child is currently or was most recently enrolled of the disappearance and provide the superintendent with information concerning the identity of the missing child. The unit shall also promptly notify the superintendent if the child is located.
b. When the superintendent of the school district is notified of the report, he shall mark the child's school record. The record shall be marked in such a way that whenever a copy of or information regarding the record is requested, the school district will be aware that the record is that of a missing child. Once the superintendent has been notified by the Missing Persons Unit that the child has been located, the superintendent or his designee shall remove the mark from the record.
c. If a copy of a marked school record is requested, the superintendent shall supply the record to the requestor without alerting him to the fact that the record has been marked, in accordance with the provisions governing access to pupil records pursuant to N.J.S.18A:36-19. After supplying a copy of or information regarding the marked record to the requestor, the superintendent shall immediately report the inquiry or any knowledge as to the whereabouts of the missing child to the unit.
d. Upon notification of a request for a marked school record or other information concerning a missing child, the unit shall commence an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the request, including a search for any record that may exist showing who has legal custody of the child and for any record that may disclose an allegation of child abuse perpetrated against the child or an allegation of domestic violence perpetrated against a member of the child's family.
e. If a search, pursuant to subsection d. of this section, reveals that a child reported missing is in the custody of his legal guardian or if substantiated allegations of child abuse against the child or any order protecting a family member from domestic violence exists, the unit shall continue the investigation without disclosing the whereabouts of the child or his guardian to the person who reported the child missing.
L.1995,c.395,s.2.
52:17B-9.8c.Notification of State registrar of vital statistics; records
3. a. Upon receipt of a report of a missing child, the Missing Persons Unit shall notify the State registrar of vital statistics in the Department of Health of the disappearance and provide him with information concerning the identity of the missing child. The unit shall also promptly notify the State registrar if the child has been located.
b. Upon receiving notification from the unit, the State registrar shall mark the child's birth certificate. The birth certificate shall be marked in such a manner that whenever a copy of or information regarding the birth certificate is requested, the State registrar shall be aware that the certificate is that of a missing child. Once the State registrar has been notified by the Missing Persons Unit that the child has been located, the State or local registrar shall remove the mark from the record.
c. If a copy of the child's birth certificate is requested, the State registrar shall supply the birth certificate to the requestor without alerting him to the fact that the birth certificate has been marked. After supplying a copy of or information regarding the marked birth certificate to the requestor, the State registrar shall immediately report the inquiry or any knowledge as to the whereabouts of the missing child to the unit.
d. Upon notification of a report of a missing child, the State registrar shall request that the local registrar of the district where the child was born mark the child's birth certificate. When a copy of the marked birth certificate is requested, the local registrar shall supply the copy to the requestor without alerting him to the fact that the record has been marked and immediately notify the State registrar of the request.
e. Upon notification of a request for a marked birth certificate or other information concerning a missing child, the Missing Persons Unit shall commence an investigation of the circumstances surrounding the request, including a search for any record that may exist showing who has legal custody of the missing child and for any record that may disclose an allegation of child abuse perpetrated against the child or an allegation of domestic violence perpetrated against a member of the child's family.
f. If a search as described pursuant to subsection e. of this section reveals that a child reported missing is in the custody of his legal guardian or if substantiated allegations of child abuse against the child or any order protecting a family member from domestic violence exists, the unit shall continue the investigation without disclosing the whereabouts of the child or his guardian to the person who reported the child missing.
L.1995,c.395,s.3.
