Analyzing Missing Person Police Case Files: Identifying Key Factors in Solvability

• In Event: Issues in Public Safety and Policing

Abstract

Each year thousands of people are reported as missing to police departments across the United States. Ensuring the successful location of individuals across diverse circumstances utilizes a large amount of law enforcement and community resources. As the prevalence of missing individuals continues to grow, so too does criminal justice scholarship on the topic. However, there is a lack of empirical assessment on the factors influencing whether a missing person case is successfully solved. The current study seeks to further knowledge in this area by presenting the preliminary results of a secondary data analysis of police case files. More specifically, missing person cases are examined for case characteristics, investigative strategies, and outcomes. Key results are highlighted in terms of implications for further research as well as shaping policy and practice. Strengths, limitations, and future directions are also discussed.

Authors

• Kamali'ilani Wetherell, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Terance D. Miethe, University of Nevada, Las Vegas