The Missing Persons Unit (MPU) investigates approximately 4000 adult Missing Person (M/P) reports annually, or 250 to 300 reports per month. Contrary to public belief, federal law prohibits the observance of a waiting period before accepting a M/P report. Approximately 70% of all reported missing persons are found or voluntarily return within 48 to 72 hours. Not all adult missing persons are the v
ictims of kidnapping, murders, or some other criminal act. There are a variety of reasons why a person voluntarily disappears including mental illness, depression, substance abuse, credit problems, abusive relationships, or marital discord. California law classifies M/P reports as “non-criminal”; however, they take investigative precedence over crimes involving property, thus establishing a “due diligence” responsibility on the part of the adult MPU. Any adult person can simply walk away, and choose to ignore family, friends, associates and employers. Since this type of behavior is not “criminal”, law enforcement is limited on how they conduct these types of investigations. When facts and circumstances indicate a strong possibility of “foul-play”, or the disappearance is the result of a criminal act, the investigation will continue along such a course.
