TEXAS DEPARTMENTOF PUBLIC SAFETY

MISSINGPERSONS

CLEARING-HOUSE

1-800-346-3243

MP-14 (Rev. 11/09)MISSINGPERSONSCLEARINGHOUSE

INTELLIGENCEANDCOUNTERTERRORISMDIVISION

TEXASDEPARTMENTOFPUBLICSAFETY

POBOX4087

AUSTINTX78773-0450

DEFINITIONS� “Missing Child” means a person under 18 years

of age whose whereabouts are unknown to thechild’s legal custodian, and the circumstances ofwhose absence indicate that:

(A) The child did not voluntarily leave the careand control of the custodian, and the takingof the child was not authorized by law; or

(B) The child voluntarily left the care and controlof the legal custodian without the custodian’sconsent and without the intent to return; or

(C) The child was taken or retained in violation ofthe terms of a court order for possession of oraccess to the child.

� “Missing Person” means a person 18 years of ageor older whose disappearance is possibly notvoluntary. A “Missing Person” also includes aperson of any age who is missing and is:

(A) under proven physical or mental disability oris senile; or

(B) missing under circumstances indicating thatthe missing person’s safety is in doubt; or

(C) unemancipated as defined by the laws of thisstate; or

(D) missing after a catastrophe.

A missing person report should be filed with the locallaw enforcement agency having jurisdiction over theplace where the individual was last seen or the placewhere the individual was last known to reside.

Under Texas law there is no waiting period before arecord of a missing person can be filed. The lawrequires that a law enforcement agency immediatelyenter a record of a missing child into the NationalCrime Information Center’s (NCIC) Missing PersonFile (Article 63.009, Code of Criminal Procedures).

TEXASMISSING PERSONS

CLEARINGHOUSE

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETYINTELLIGENCE AND COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISION

LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS(Article 63, Code of Criminal Procedures)

� The Missing Persons Clearinghouse serves asa central repository of information about Texas’missing persons or persons missing from otherstates but believed to be in Texas. The Clearing-house also provides a centralized file for theexchange of information with law enforcementagencies.

� All Texas law enforcement agencies, uponreceiving a report of a missing child/adult, shallimmediately enter the name of the person intothe Clearinghouse. These entries are madeautomatically by entering the information intothe National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC)Missing Person File.

� Texas law enforcement agencies shall enterunidentified living/deceased into the Clearinghouseand the National Crime Information Center’s(NCIC) Unidentified Person File.

SERVICES PROVIDED

� Toll-Free Helplinea) An incoming toll-free telephone line for

parents, law enforcement agencies, andothers to report information about missingpersons and unidentified living/deceased

b) Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

� Missing Persons Internet Web Site

www.txdps.state.tx.us

The MPCH web site features pictures anddescriptions of missing and unidentified persons aswell as access to the MPCH forms that are utilizedby both law enforcement and the general public. Toobtain an 8.5" x 11" printed poster of a missing orunidentified person, simply click on the photographor name.

The web site allows for timely posting and iscontinuously updated. It offers the most currentinformation pertaining to missing and unidentifiedpersons. For nationwide information, this web siteprovides a link to the National Center for Missingand Exploited Children Internet web site atwww.missingkids.com.

If Internet access is not available,contact the Clearinghouse for a poster.

� BrochuresEducational and informational brochuresregarding missing and runaway children

� FliersAssist individuals filing missing person reportsin developing missing person fliers

� PublicityWork closely with television stations, news-papers and others in an effort to publicizephotographs and descriptions of missingpersons

� Networkinga) Serve as a liaison between the general

public and law enforcement agencies inTexas

b) Serve as a liaison between Texas lawenforcement agencies and law enforce-ment agencies in other states, usuallythrough the clearinghouse in other states

c) Maintain contact with the National Centerfor Missing and Exploited Children

d) Coordinate efforts with the Texas EducationAgency in identifying missing children whomay be enrolled in Texas public schools

� Education and Public Awarenessa) Educate law enforcement agencies in

Texas about the Clearinghouse and itsfunctions through speeches, workshopsand personal visits

b) Educate the general public about theMissing Persons Clearinghouse throughpublic presentations