The Unseen Toll: A Deep Dive into the Close to 100k People Missing in the United States

Introduction:

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) plays a crucial role in law enforcement, maintaining databases that aid in the identification and location of missing persons and unidentified individuals. This article provides an in-depth look at the NCIC Missing Person File and Unidentified Person File, their categories, and key statistics as of December 31, 2022.

NCIC Missing Person File:

The Missing Person File, implemented in 1975, retains records indefinitely until the individual is located or the record is canceled by the entering agency. The file includes individuals reported missing under various circumstances, such as disability, endangerment, involuntary disappearance, juvenile status, catastrophe victims, and others.

As of December 31, 2022, the NCIC contained 97,127 active missing person records. Juveniles under the age of 18 accounted for 31 percent of the records, and 41 percent when considering juveniles under 21. Throughout 2022, 546,568 missing person records were entered, with 543,088 purged during the same period.

The Missing Person Circumstances (MPC) field, available since July 1999, was utilized in 48 percent of the 2022 entries. Notably, 95 percent of these entries were coded as runaway, indicating the prevalence of this category among missing persons.

Below is a graph from 2022 of the NCIC showing the statistical breakdown of the system and it’s use in 2022.

MISSING PERSON ENTRY/PURGED TRANSACTIONS:

Below is a graphical breakdown of all entries and removals from the missing person database. Analyzing this data, you’ll see 62% are juvenile, people under the age of 18, with an additional 3% of the missing juveniles being listed as someone in the other categories (endangered, involuntary, disabled or catastrophe) Making a total of 65% of missing from 2022 being Juveniles. 2% of these missing was considered involuntary aka abduction or kidnapping. At the end of the year, the NCIC had a surplus of 3,480 new missing in the database, for a total 97,127 actively missing people.

2022 Missing Person Entry by Age/Sex/Race

This graph shows a breakdown of entries by age, sex and race. In examining the data, you’ll find more females go missing under the age of 17 regardless of race. This statistic changes with age, as Males older then 18+ are more likely to go missing per 2022 data. In terms of race, being black, you’re 3.5 times more likely to go missing per this data from 2022.

2022 Missing Person Entry by Category:

This graph below shows a better breakdown of the age and the reported circumstances of the disappearance. Interestingly, you’ll find that regardless of sex, both males and females have similar number of involuntary disappearances (abductions/Kidnappings). But due to the skew, of more 18+ males going missing, 7.8% of adult female disappearances are due to involuntary circumstances, with adult males being at 5%

2022 Missing Person Entry By Category with Breakdown

This chart further breaks down the data adding race and sex, removing age as a factory. Noting that anyone under 17 that do not meet the other criteria are listed as Juvenile.

NCIC Unidentified Person File:

The Unidentified Person File, initiated in 1983, retains records indefinitely unless removed by the entering agency. This file encompasses deceased and living individuals for whom identity cannot be ascertained, as well as catastrophe victims.

As of December 31, 2022, there were 8,450 unidentified person records in the NCIC. Throughout 2022, 902 unidentified person records were entered, including deceased bodies, catastrophe victims, and living persons unable to ascertain their identity.

Contact Information:

The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, Law Enforcement Engagement and Data Sharing Section, handles the distribution of monthly NCIC extracts, analysis reports, and responds to requests for nationwide statistics. Law enforcement agencies and the media can reach out to the NCIC Investigative and Operational Assistance Group (IOAG) for further information or assistance via email at ioau@fbi.gov.

Conclusion:

The NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files are essential tools in helping to resolve cases of missing and unidentified individuals. By providing law enforcement agencies with comprehensive data and statistics, these files enable authorities to more effectively search for and locate missing persons, as well as identify individuals who cannot be named.

The collaboration between the NCIC and law enforcement agencies is vital in ensuring public safety and bringing closure to families affected by these cases. With accurate and up-to-date information at their disposal, law enforcement personnel are better equipped to address and resolve these cases, ultimately making our communities safer.

In addition, these resources can help raise public awareness about the issue of missing persons and the importance of reporting any relevant information to the authorities. Increased awareness and cooperation from the public can significantly improve the chances of finding missing persons and identifying those who remain nameless.

Moreover, the NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files can help to inform and improve public policies related to missing persons cases. By analyzing the data and trends, policymakers can develop more effective strategies to prevent people from going missing and to provide support for the families of missing persons.

In conclusion, the NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files are powerful tools in the effort to address the issue of missing and unidentified individuals. By providing law enforcement agencies with the information, they need to locate and identify these individuals, these resources contribute to public safety and bring hope to the families of those who are missing.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (2022). NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/stats-services-ncic-missing-persons-and-unidentified-persons-2022.pdf/view