The statewide minimum standards for Ohio missing persons has been revised, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). The Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board has emphasized the need to standardize missing persons procedures across law enforcement agencies statewide. 

The Ohio Collaborative, a 12-person panel of law enforcement experts and community leaders from throughout the state, was established in 2015 to "hold everyone accountable and instill a greater confidence with the public," the OCJS states. Through panel input, the board provides statewide law enforcement standards. 

87 percent of Ohio law enforcement officers are certified by the board; police departments across Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties participate in the certification process, according to OCJS.

In order to gain accreditation in the new missing persons standards, the board said in a statement that "Ohio law enforcement agencies must establish written policies for reporting and investigating missing adults and children." The policy criteria must include the following:

  • Entry and removal of the information in the appropriate criminal justice information systems.
  • Alert system to activate, notifying the public pursuant to Ohio Revised Code chapter 5502.
  • Policies must also differ if the missing person is an adult suffering from mental health issues, Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
  • For missing children, prompt and systematic searches must be common features of investigations.

The Ohio Collaborative reviewed and chose to revise its missing persons standards following a recommendation from the Ohio Missing Persons Working Group.