N.J. Stat. § 52:17B-212

Current through L. 2024, c. 80.

Section 52:17B-212 - Definitions relative to missing persons

As used in this act:

"High risk missing person" means a person whose whereabouts are not currently known and the circumstances of the person's disappearance suggest that the person may be at imminent or likely risk of injury or death. The circumstances that indicate that a person is a high risk missing person shall include, but not be limited to:

a. the person is missing as a result of a confirmed abduction or under circumstances that indicate that the person's disappearance was not voluntary;

b. the person is missing under known dangerous circumstances;

c. the person is missing more than 30 days;

d. there is evidence that the person is at risk because:

(1) the person missing is in need of medical attention or prescription medication such that it will have a serious adverse effect on the person's health if he or she does not receive the needed care or medication;

(2) the person missing does not have a pattern of running away or disappearing;

(3) the person missing may have been abducted by a non-custodial parent;

(4) the person missing is mentally impaired;

(5) the person missing is a person over the age of 13 and under the age of 21 years and any other risk factor is known; or

(6) the person missing has been the subject of past threats or acts of violence; and

e. any other factor that may indicate, in the judgment of the lead law enforcement agency, that the missing person may be at risk.

"Law enforcement agency" means a department, division, bureau, commission, board, or other authority of the State or of any political subdivision thereof which employs law enforcement officers.

"Law enforcement officer" means a person whose public duties include the power to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest, and conviction of offenders against the laws of this State.

"Lead law enforcement agency" means the law enforcement agency with primary responsibility for investigating a missing person case.

"Missing child" means a person 13 years of age or younger whose whereabouts are not currently known.

"Missing Persons Unit" means the Missing Persons Unit in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. 1983, c.467 (C.52:17B-9.7).

N.J.S. § 52:17B-212

Added by L. 2007, c. 279,s. 1, eff. 8/1/2008.