The following statutory criteria must be met before the N.C. Center for Missing Persons will activate a Missing Endangered Alert:

Missing Endangered Alert will provide a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be suffering from congnitive impairment, that requires them to be protected from potential abuse or other physical harm, neglect, or exploitation.
Criteria:

• Believed to have a cognitive impairment (not medical).

• Reported Missing to law Enforcement within 72 hours.

• In danger of abuse, physical harm, neglect or exploitation.

Step 1 - Local Law Enforcement Investigates

When a family member or caregiver calls local law enforcement to report their missing loved one, the law enforcement agency must first investigate the case and determine if the criteria warrant a request for a Missing Endangered Alert. According to North Carolina law, a Missing Endangered Alert can only be issued if all of the criteria are met.

Step 2 - Local Law Enforcement

• Enter information into the National Criminal Information Center system

• Initiate a statewide “be on the lookout” bulletin to all appropriate law enforcement agencies

• Provide a 24-hour phone number to receive calls during the investigation

• After completing the investigation and determining the case meets the qualifying criteria, law enforcement will go to the NC Center for Missing Persons (NCCMP) website ( https://nccmp.ncdps.gov ) and complete the request for Missing Endangered Alert

• Once the missing person has been located, the requesting law enforcement agency will complete the cancelation in the NCCMP website.

NC Center for Missing Persons Responsibilities

• Once the Missing Endangered request is received via email from the NCCMP website the alert will be denied or approved

• A copy of the email will be sent to the requesting agency email provided

• All updates and changes will be done through the NCCMP website ( https://nccmp.ncdps.gov ) by the requesting agency

• NC Division of Aging

• The Area Agency on Aging Map

• NC Family Caregiver Support Program

If a loved one is missing, family and friends should immediately notify local law enforcement. When a person is abducted, time is valuable.

• File a police or sheriff's report. Include information on where the missing person was last known to be, as well as names of the individual's family and friends. Provide officers with a recent photo as soon as possible.
• Request that law enforcement put out a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) Bulletin.
• Ask for an organized search with the use of tracking dogs if possible.
• If the missing person has alzheimer's or some other cognitive impairement, ask local law enforcement to have a Missing Endangered Alert issued.
• Limit access to your home until law enforcement investigators arrive and have collected evidence.
• Give investigator all facts and circumstances related to disappearance including what efforts have already been made.
• Write a detailed description of clothing and any personal belongings the person may have. Note any birthmarks, scars, tattoos, or mannerisms, and supply any photo that may show the marks. Give this information to the investigator.
• Designate one person to answer your telephone. Keep a pad of paper by the phone to jot down names, telephone numbers, date and time of calls and the purpose of the call. You may want to get law enforcement to put a tracer on your phone and get an answering machine that will tape calls. You may also want to add caller ID. If you do not have a cell phone, you may want to get one so that you can be reached at any time.

For cases that are older than 30 days, help officers locate dental and medical records.

N.C. Center for Missing Persons: 1-800-522-5437