Missing Person Alerts for Law Enforcement
Minnesota law enforcement agencies may choose to issue a Missing Person Alert in the case of a missing person who is not endangered. These alerts can aid the investigation by notifying defined audience categories – for example, law enforcement, selected business categories or the media.
If your missing person is endangered, you must issue an Endangered Missing Person Alert.
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)-certified law enforcement personnel may distribute a Missing Person Alert through the Crime Alert Network. Personnel will receive a username and password once certification is completed.
Login to the Crime Alert Network.
Law enforcement personnel needing assistance sending a Missing Person Alert should contact the BCA at 651-793-7000. For assistance with login issues contact Crime Alert Network Office at 651-793-1120 or dps.mcan@state.mn.us.
Law Enforcement Missing Person Alert Certification Training
Training to become certified to issue Missing Person Alerts, as well as information on how to complete and distribute alert forms, is available in the nextTEST Training Library, titled Alerts – Crime, Missing, and Endangered. New users must view the training to obtain the certification required to issue alerts.
Alert Forms Available in Launch Pad
In addition, fillable Missing Person Alert forms are available in LaunchPad in MNJIS Resources. The BCA can assist agencies as needed with filling out and distributing the forms.
Information for families of missing people
Get information that you can provide to families when a person is missing or has been abducted.
Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse
To gain additional attention for a missing person case, law enforcement agencies may choose to request that information about a missing person be posted on the BCA’s Minnesota Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse page.
Steps
Before a missing person can be listed on the Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse, these steps must be followed:
A missing person report must be filed and entered into the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) missing person file by the investigating agency.
Download and print out the Minnesota Missing Person Bulletin Information & Release Form and fill out as completely as possible. Incomplete forms will need to be validated prior to posting.
Sign and date the form.
Please note that there are two places to sign: the Information/Photograph Release and the signature line at the bottom of the form.
Collect recent photographs of the missing person, especially clear head shots.
Send the completed form and photographs to the BCA Missing Persons Clearinghouse via one of the following methods:
Option 1
Email the completed form and photographs to: bca.missing-persons@state.mn.us
Email the photographs in a standard image format (.jpg, .gif, .bmp, .png). Include the case number, case contact, and the missing person's name in the email.
Option 2
Mail the completed form and photographs to:
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
Minnesota Missing & Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse
1430 Maryland Avenue E.
St. Paul, MN 55106
For more information about the Minnesota Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse, call 651-793-1118.