When a Loved One Goes Missing - Operation Lady Justice (PDF)

When a Loved One Goes Missing Resources for Families of Missing American Indian and Alaska Native Adults  This guide was published by the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, known as Operation Lady Justice. Presidential Executive Order 13898 established Operation Lady Justice and includes members from the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cover art: “Lady Justice” used with permission from D.G. Smalling, Choctaw Nation See reuse policy: www.operationladyjustice.usdoj.gov/reuse-policy www.operationladyjustice.usdoj.gov When a Loved One Goes Missing: Resources for Families of Missing American Indian and Alaska Native Adults PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C.  Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................1 Missing Adults ..............................................................................................2 Searching for a Loved One ...........................................................................3 The First Days After a Disappearance .........................................................3 Filing a Missing Person Report ............................................................5 Collecting and Sharing Information With Law Enforcement .............. 8 Supporting the Search ......................................................................... 9 Creating a Missing Person Flyer ...........................................................10 Using Social Media ............................................................................... 11 Contacting the Media ............................................................................ 12 Understanding Intentional Disappearance and Confidentiality ........ 13 30 Days or More After a Disappearance .................................................... 14 Gathering Physical Identification Information ..................................... 14 Searching for a Long-Term Missing Loved One ................................. 14 Finding Assistance and Supportive Services ............................................16 Emotional ..................................................................................................... 16 Financial .......................................................................................................17 Legal .............................................................................................................17 Coping With Trauma and Grief ....................................................................18 Trauma ..........................................................................................................18 Grief and Traumatic Grief .............................................................................18 Self-Care and Community Care ...................................................................19 Caring for a Returned Loved One ................................................................21 Trauma in Survivors .....................................................................................21 Healing Needs of Survivors.......................................................................... 22 Survivors of Human Trafficking .................................................................... 23 Resources .....................................................................................................24 Appendix — Missing Person Flyer ................................................................ 27 Appendix — Map of Tribal Coalitions ..........................................................28 Appendix — Law Enforcement and Jurisdiction ..........................................29  Operation Lady Justice 1 Introduction This guide provides information and practical resources to assist family members and friends with the search for a missing adult loved one. While not an exhaustive list of actions, this guide offers helpful steps to take while searching for a loved one, suggestions about how to cope with trauma, and a list of resources for navigating this difficult situation. Dial 911 or contact law enforcement immediately when a person younger than 21 years old disappears or if the missing person is at immediate risk of injury or death. Each missing loved one’s situation is unique, and not every recommendation or resource in this guide will apply in every situation. If the information in this guide feels overwhelming right now, consider asking a family member, friend, or another person to read it for you, provide support, and share information with you when you are ready. If you need to talk with someone, contact StrongHearts Native Helpline (www.strongheartshelpline.org) at 844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (www.aknwrc.org) at 907-328-3990. Additionally, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (www. missingkids.org) at 800-THE-LOST (843-5678) offers many resources to help families looking for a missing child.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 2 Missing Adults There are many reasons why adults may go missing. If you are reading this, you care about your loved one. Be aware that they may have left unan- nounced to escape a dangerous situation. Until a law enforcement investigation is conducted, it may be unknown if an individual is in danger or if the loved one is a victim of a crime. For these reasons, it’s critical for families and friends to report to law enforcement when someone goes missing — and for law enforcement to take a missing person report. A missing person report is an official record of the disappearance so no loved one is ever forgotten, no matter how long a case goes on. There is no standard, national protocol for how local law enforcement responds to missing adults over the age of 21. So, there may be times when law enforcement does not take a missing adult person report immediately. In this situation, seek out support from Tribal coalitions, advocacy programs, and grassroots organizations. These organizations are there for a family’s well-being and safety in Tribal communities. Additionally, throughout the process of searching for a missing loved one, emotions can run high, and people may not be supportive. There is the possibility you may encounter “victim blaming.” This may happen when the missing loved one’s behavior or past experiences influence the community or law enforcement response to the search. Focusing on the missing loved one’s importance to you, your family, and your Tribal community can help if you encounter victim blaming during this emotional time.  Operation Lady Justice 3 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 www.thehotline.org National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888 www.humantraffickinghotline.org National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): 833-872-5176 www.namus.gov National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929 www.1800runaway.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483 www.strongheartshelpline.org The First Days After a Disappearance When a loved one goes missing, time is critical. Once you have determined a loved one — regardless of their age — is missing, contact local law enforcement as soon as possible to file a report. This is especially important if the person has any health issues, disabilities, impairments, or medication requirements. Again, time is critical; notify law enforcement immediately. Searching for a Loved One When an adult loved one goes missing, it’s often confusing and extremely stressful for the family. This section shares steps to take during the first days after a disappearance through 30 days or more into the search. You Are Not Alone At any point, national hotlines can offer support over the phone and via chat services. Conversations are confidential and anonymous. National hotlines may refer you to state or local resources for support.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 4 Emergency Dial 911 when there is — • evidence or suspicion of foul play or your loved one is in danger; or • immediate risk of injury or death, including a missing elder with cognitive disabilities or when someone goes missing during adverse weather conditions such as extreme heat or cold. If 911 capability is unavailable in a Tribal community, contact local law enforcement. Non-Emergency Contact the law enforcement non-emergency number in the location where the individual went missing when — • there is no immediate physical danger; or • a loved one has been missing for some time (e.g., several weeks, months, or years). If the loved one went missing on Tribal land, contact the Tribal police department, if there is one, or your local police department and ask to report a missing person. If the loved one lives or went missing outside of the territorial boundaries of Tribal land, contact the police department in that area. Note: If the Tribe does not have a police department, or you are unsure who to contact, call the local police department or county sheriff’s office and ask for assistance. When there is evidence of a crime, local law enforcement agencies are generally best suited to determine if and when to involve a federal or state law enforcement agency. There are complex jurisdictional questions at play when a crime occurs on Tribal land, and local law enforcement will know if state or federal authorities have the proper jurisdiction in these situations.  Operation Lady Justice 5 Filing a Missing Person Report Contact law enforcement in person, over the phone, or online to file a missing person report. Provide as much information as possible about the missing loved one. This includes their last known whereabouts, places they like to go, and friends or relatives who may have been in contact with them. It’s OK if you don’t have all the information right away. Share what you know so law enforcement can create a missing person report and begin investigating. Any information — positive or negative — can help investigators locate a missing loved one. If you are concerned about sharing negative information, remember that every missing person is more than the sum of their experiences. Keeping the missing loved one’s importance to you, your family, and your community at the forefront can help build trust between you and the investigators when you file a report and during the search. Take notes when you talk with law enforcement. During any emotional time, it can be easy to forget information. Write down the date, time, who you spoke with, and what you talked about to help you remember the discussions about the missing loved one. If local law enforcement is not willing to assist or seems confused about the jurisdiction responsible for investigating, file a complaint with the supervisor or supervising entity. For example, for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police, the supervising entity is the local BIA superintendent. For Tribal police, contact the police chief or the Tribal judicial committee. For county police, contact the sheriff; for city police officers, contact the police chief.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 6 Information to gather and share with law enforcement.  Recent photo  Full name, nickname, and aliases  Tribal affiliation(s)  Home address  Date of birth and age at the time of disappearance  Gender and biological sex (include both if they are different)  Detailed description: height and weight; hair and eye color; unique scars, marks, and tattoos  Date and time of disappearance  Description of clothing or accessories worn at the time of disappearance  Last known location  Who they were last seen with before they went missing  Any likely destinations such as favorite places, work, or study locations  Information on any previous missing episodes and how those were resolved  Medical conditions or behavioral health information  Disability (physical or mental)  Bank, credit card, or other financial statements  Vehicle registration number, make, model, or other transportation methods  Personal items left behind such as their purse, wallet, phone, or keys  Social media account usernames/handles, email addresses, and cellphone numbers  Operation Lady Justice 7 Take notes for your own records. •Name and phone number of the police department • Name of the officer you spoke with and their badge number • Date and time the missing person report was filed • Missing person case report number • Notes about the conversation Record this information in the same place so it is easily found and can serve as a timeline of events. You can also ask for a copy of the missing person report for future reference. It can be helpful to have support when communicating with law enforcement. Ask a family member, friend, or partner to be with you during these discussions. Some police departments have trained advocates who may also be able to support you. If an investigator asks to speak with you privately, it may be to help you feel comfortable disclosing information about the missing loved one that may feel private or sensitive. After reporting your loved one missing, the law enforcement response will vary depending on the circumstances. People who are older adults/elders or those with a physical or mental disability are considered particularly vulnerable; law enforcement will take quick action in these cases and when there is suspicion or evidence that someone is a victim of a crime. Individuals who are not possible crime victims or don’t fall within a vulner- able category may not receive as much urgent law enforcement attention. Legally speaking, adults have the right to be left alone. It’s possible there may be limited police involvement after a report is filed.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 8 Collecting and Sharing Information With Law Enforcement As the investigation begins, families can support the search by —  talking with family, friends, and others who may know something.  sharing the individual’s social media account usernames/handles (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) to determine who may know the missing loved one and have some information about them.  writing down information in a notebook, phone, or tablet and sharing new information or details with law enforcement.  gathering recent photos of the missing loved one.  securing areas such as a bedroom or a bathroom; law enforcement may need to collect certain items to support their search. Share any new information with the law enforcement investigator handling the missing person case and keep copies of the information for your own records. If your missing loved one returns home safely or contacts family members or friends, immediately notify police so they can confirm their safety and welfare. Law enforcement will use the information you provide to aid in the search of your loved one and will provide information, when possible, on what is being done. Understand that law enforcement is often unable to disclose all the steps taken in a case, as it could jeopardize the investigation. If you are concerned that law enforcement is not doing enough, first speak with supervisory staff, the police chief, or the sheriff where the loved one was reported missing. If further help is needed, contact local media to tell your story; reach out to elected Tribal, state, or federal representatives; or consult with a civil attorney. While publicizing a case in the media or with elected officials may increase awareness and attention, it might also impact the investigation and divert law enforcement staff time and resources.  Operation Lady Justice 9 Supporting the Search Families have a right to search for their missing loved one. If you do search on your own, it is helpful to maintain open communication with law enforce- ment throughout the search process (at the beginning, during, and after the loved one is located), especially if evidence needs to be preserved. Families can support the search by identifying individuals who can — • coordinate with law enforcement, • manage and communicate with volunteers, • oversee food and shelter arrangements, • work with victim service providers, and • arrange for Elders to provide spiritual guidance. Searches on some terrain may require specialized equipment and volunteers such as horse and rider teams, volunteers for foot searches, ATVs, boats, divers, sonar equipment, planes, helicopters, and drones. Work with law enforcement to connect with a professional search team or search online to find an organization in your area. Some organizations provide their time and expertise for free to families searching for a loved one. During the search, law enforcement may contact hospitals, jails, and medical examiners or coroners’ offices. While health care organizations may not be able to share personal information (even with family) because of confidenti- ality laws, law enforcement is exempt when there’s a safety threat. Law enforcement may enter details about the missing person into a national database — the National Crime Information Center — to connect with other local, state, Tribal, and federal law enforcement officers across the country.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 10 Creating a Missing Person Flyer A missing person flyer can increase awareness and support, both online and in the community. Sharing a digital flyer on social media can reach people across a large geographic area quickly. To spread awareness, ask others to share the flyer on their social media accounts. If distributing paper flyers, post them in the location where the missing person was last seen and in places they normally frequent, such as shopping centers, bus stops, parks, Tribal centers, gyms, or restaurants. If you need assistance with printing costs for missing person flyers, local businesses may discount the cost or print them for free. When creating a flyer, include the following information:  Name  Recent photo  Date of disappearance  Gender and biological sex (if different)  Detailed description (height, weight, build, hair, eye color)  Identifying marks or scars, especially tattoos and other unique marks Don’t include personal contact information (i.e., home address, personal phone number, or personal email address) on the flyer. Instead, use the law enforcement agency’s preferred contact number. Consider creating an email address specifically for the search effort. A missing person flyer template is in the appendix. You can also create a “printable poster” for missing person cases published in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Contact 833-872-5176 or [email protected] for assistance with printing posters.  Operation Lady Justice 11 NamUs is a public resource for long-term missing person cases verified by law enforcement. Friends, family, or the general public can use the database (www.namus.gov) to share updates, access case information, and connect with criminal justice professionals in NamUs. Using Social Media Posting the missing person’s photo and flyer on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and asking others to share it immediately spreads awareness and increases community involvement. Steps to consider when using social media: • Coordinate with law enforcement before using social media when they are assisting with the case; there may be considerations about what case details to share publicly on social media. • Determine what to share publicly; keep sensitive details about the loved one private. • Think about creating a new social media account for the missing person separate from your personal accounts. • Share the law enforcement non-emergency number or hotline to call with tips; avoid sharing personal contact information online. • Designate a family member or friend to update and manage posts. • Include a direct ask in social media posts, such as asking others to share the post or call with information. • Share photos just of the missing person; photos should not include other people (to protect their privacy and avoid confusion). • Identify relevant hashtags, or create a new hashtag for your search, to include in the social media posts to potentially reach more people and make it easier to find related online posts. • Look for online groups highlighting missing persons in your area; ask them to share information about your missing loved one.  When a Loved One Goes Missing 12 Be aware if you post on social media: You may receive negative comments on social media posts. These comments may shame or blame the missing loved one for their own disappearance. You don’t need to reply and can delete negative comments. Also, the FBI warns families to beware of scammers exploiting the disappearance of a loved one for money. Learn more at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov or www.fbi.gov). Contacting the Media Contacting local media about your missing loved one can help raise awareness, especially early in the search. You can share the missing person flyer and ask that the information be shared on the air or in a story. Steps to consider when contacting media outlets: • Coordinate with law enforcement before contacting media outlets, if possible; there may be considerations about what case details to share publicly depending on each individual situation. • Determine what to share publicly; keep sensitive details private. • Share the law enforcement non-emergency number or hotline to call with tips; avoid sharing personal contact information. • Designate one person as the media contact/spokesperson so consis- tent information is shared. • Include a direct ask for reporters to convey to the public, such as asking people to call the police with any information. Media coverage can have drawbacks, including intense focus on the family during a difficult time, disclosure and scrutiny of personal information about the loved one or the family, or the potential to undermine a police investigation.