CHAPTER Saf-C 7900 MISSING ADULT PROGRAM AND MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT ALERT PROGRAM

PART Saf-C 7901 MISSING ADULT PROGRAM

Saf-C 7901.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the standards and procedures for local law enforcement to determine if a person is a missing adult as defined in RSA 106-J:1, including filing a missing person report and reporting information to the National Crime Information Center and designated media outlets.

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Saf-C 7901.02 Scope.

(a) The missing adult program shall apply to situations when a person, who is 18 years of age or older and who resides or is believed to be in New Hampshire, is reported missing, and a law enforcement agency determine that the person meets one of the categories listed in RSA 106-J:1, IV.

(b) The rules are not intended to remove the discretion of a law enforcement agency to notify the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) when an adult is missing under circumstances other than those specified in RSA 106-J:1, IV, when the law enforcement agency has reasonable concern for such adult's safety.

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Saf-C 7901.03 Definitions.

(a) "Department" means “department” as defined by RSA 106-J:3, II.

(b) “Division” means the division of state police of the department.

(d) "Missing adult" means “missing adult” as defined by RSA 106-J:1.

(e) “State police online telecommunications system (SPOTS)” means the system that provides access to files from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal justice information system through the national law enforcement telecommunications system.

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Saf-C 7901.04 Determination of Missing Adult.

(a) Upon receiving notice of a missing person, a local law enforcement agency shall determine if the person is a missing adult as defined in RSA 106-J:1.

(b) In making such a determination, if the local law enforcement agency is notified that the person has a cognitive or mental disability, or other related disability, the law enforcement agency may determine whether the person is considered a missing vulnerable adult as defined in RSA 106-J:3, III.

(c) If the local law enforcement agency determines a person to be a missing adult, the agency shall initiate the reporting procedure set forth in this part Saf-C 7901.

(d) If the local law enforcement agency determines a person to be a missing vulnerable adult, the agency shall initiate the alert activation procedures set forth in part Saf-C 7902.

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Saf-C 7901.05 Missing Person Report Criteria. A missing person report shall be filed by a local law enforcement agency within 48 hours of receiving notice of a missing person who meets the definition of a missing adult.

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Saf-C 7901.06 Missing Person Report Procedures.

(a) The ranking on-duty law enforcement officer of a local law enforcement agency shall determine that a missing person meets the definition of a missing adult and that a missing person report should be filed.

(b) Once the ranking on-duty law enforcement officer has made the determination that a missing person report should be filed, the law enforcement agency shall:

(1) Generate a SPOTS message. Considerations regarding the missing adult’s ability to obtain transportation shall be given when deciding where to direct the SPOTS message. These same factors shall be considered when deciding if alert broadcast should be requested in other states; and

(2) The local law enforcement agency shall input the information regarding the missing adult into the NCIC system immediately after the report has been filed.

(1) Name and contact number of the investigating agency;

(2) Name and age of missing adult;

(3) Missing adult’s last known location;

(4) Missing adult’s last known direction of travel;

(5) Missing adult’s last known clothing description;

(6) Missing adult’s last known vehicle information, if applicable;

(7) Possible destination, if applicable; and

(8) Missing adult’s medical status.

(d) Upon the receipt of the missing SPOTS message in (b)(1) above, the state police headquarters communications personnel shall review the SPOTS message for accuracy.

(e) The initial investigating law enforcement agency shall immediately notify the NCIC when the missing adult is located or returned.

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PART Saf-C 7902 MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT ALERT PROGRAM

Saf-C 7902.01 Purpose. The purpose of the missing vulnerable adult alert program is to set forth the standards and procedures for local law enforcement to determine if a person is a missing vulnerable adult as defined in RSA 106-J:3, III, including establishing a tiered approach to issuing alerts that inform the appropriate parties rapidly to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing vulnerable adult.

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Saf-C 7902.02 Scope. The missing vulnerable adult alert program shall apply to situations when a person, who is 18 years of age or older and who resides or is believed to be in New Hampshire, is reported missing and a law enforcement agency determines that the person meets the definition of a missing vulnerable adult pursuant to RSA 106-J:3, III.

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Saf-C 7902.03 Definitions.

(a) “Caregiver" means “caregiver” as defined by RSA 106-J:3, I.

(b) "Department" means “department” as defined by RSA 106-J:3, II.

(c) “Designated media outlet” means a participating radio station, television station, or other local, regional, or statewide media outlet that has been designated by a local law enforcement agency or the department to receive alert bulletins regarding missing persons in the state.

(d) “Division” means the division of state police.

(e) “Law enforcement agency” means “law enforcement agency” as defined by RSA 105-D:1, V.

(f) “Media” means “media” as defined in RSA 106-M:1, V.

(g) “Medic Alert + Safe Return program” means a program that helps identify and locate wandering or lost missing persons with Alzheimer’s or related dementia and return them home.

(h) "Missing vulnerable adult" means “missing vulnerable adult” as defined by RSA 106-J:3, III.

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Saf-C 7902.04 Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert Activation Criteria. A missing vulnerable adult alert shall immediately be implemented when:

(a) A local law enforcement agency receives notice that a vulnerable adult is missing;

(b) The local law enforcement agency has acquired information from the vulnerable adult's family or legal guardian about the vulnerable adult's impaired mental condition, intellectual or developmental disability, brain injury, or other physical, mental, or emotional disability; and

(c) The local law enforcement agency is provided a statement from the vulnerable adult's caregiver that the vulnerable adult is missing and has an impairment.

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Saf-C 7902.05 Missing Vulnerable Adult Alert Activation Procedures.

(a) The ranking on-duty law enforcement officer of a local law enforcement agency shall be responsible for the determination that a missing person meets the definition of a missing vulnerable adult and that an immediate alert should be issued.

(b) Once the ranking on-duty law enforcement officer has made the determination that a missing vulnerable adult alert should be issued, the officer shall use the available information to establish the level of response required and shall contact the department. The local law enforcement agency shall seek any information registered through the Medic Alert + Safe Return program or similar program that is available about the missing vulnerable adult that might aid in their recovery.

(c) The initial response shall be a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 based on the information provided about the missing vulnerable person and their possible current location. The tiered framework, shall be as follows:

(1) Tier 1 shall be activated when a missing vulnerable adult has been reported to, and is being investigated by, the local law enforcement agency. The local law enforcement agency will issue a “Be on the Look Out (BOLO)” or “Attempt to Locate (ATL)” to other regional agencies to search the immediate area of the last known location of the missing vulnerable adult. The local law enforcement agency will also enter the missing vulnerable adult into the NCIC system. The local law enforcement agency has the opportunity and discretion to notify the local media of the information, if they wish;

(2) Tier 2 shall be activated when the local law enforcement agency has requested the department to begin an activation of a statewide missing person alert for a missing vulnerable adult, to include reporting the information regarding the missing vulnerable adult to E-911, to the state-wide media outlet distribution list, and the department’s social media platforms; or

(3) Tier 3 means the department has extended its alert and search for a missing vulnerable adult to another state’s jurisdiction due to updated information that the missing vulnerable adult might be outside the state of New Hampshire.

(d) The local law enforcement agency shall:

(1) Provide information to the department utilizing the DSSP 461, “Missing Person Intake Form”, (Rev. 01, 2025);

(2) Send the most recent photo of the missing adult to the department;

(3) Identify a specific agency point-of-contact within the local law enforcement agency and provide a telephone number for the public to utilize when providing case information or leads; and

(4) Notify the department of all new or updated information, including whether to escalate the tier level of the alert.

(e) The department shall confirm that the activation criteria has been satisfied prior to the information being disseminated to relevant parties.

(f) Department personnel shall notify E-911 that a missing person alert might be forthcoming.

(g) The missing vulnerable adult alert shall include all appropriate information from the local law enforcement agency that might assist in the safe recovery of the missing vulnerable adult and a statement instructing anyone with information related to the missing vulnerable adult to contact their local law enforcement agency. Alert information shall include, but not be limited to the following information:

(1) Name and contact number of the investigating agency;

(2) Name and age of missing vulnerable adult;

(3) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known location;

(4) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known direction of travel;

(5) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known clothing description;

(6) Missing vulnerable adult’s last known vehicle information, if applicable;

(7) Possible destination information, if applicable; and

(8) Missing vulnerable adult’s medical status.

(h) Once the information contained within the alert has been verified, for Tier 2 alerts or Tier 3 alerts, the report information:

(1) Shall be disseminated by the department to the relevant residents, businesses, and designated media outlets in a press-release-type format;

(2) Once received, the designated media outlets shall review the information and make a determination as to whether or not an alert will be broadcast; and

(3) If the decision to air a broadcast is made, it shall be left up to the discretion of the designated media outlet to determine how frequently the broadcast will be made and for how long they will run the alert.

(i) The local law enforcement agency that locates a missing vulnerable adult shall notify the department as soon as possible when the missing vulnerable adult is located.

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Saf-C 7902.06 Vulnerable Adult Safety Programs. The department shall include on the department's website a link to the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as a link to the MedicAlert foundation for caregivers to enroll individuals who are predisposed to wandering incidents due to a cognitive issue, and who therefore might be reported as a missing vulnerable adult, in the MedicAlert + Safe Return program or similar programs that aid in the safe return of missing vulnerable adults.

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APPENDIX

Rule Number	Statute Implemented
Saf-C 7901.01 – 7901.02	RSA 106-J:1
Saf-C 7901.03(a)	RSA 106-J:3, II
Saf-C 7901.03(b)	RSA 21-P:7
Saf-C 7901.03(c)	RSA 105-D:1, V
Saf-C 7901.03(d)	RSA 106-J:1
Saf-C 7901.03(e)	RSA 541-A:7
Saf-C 7901.04	RSA 106-J:1; RSA 106-J:3
Saf-C 7901.05	RSA 106-J:2, I
Saf-C 7901.06	RSA 106-J:2
Saf-C 7902.01	RSA 106-J:3
Saf-C 7902.02	RSA 106-J:3, III
Saf-C 7902.03(a)	RSA 106-J:3, I
Saf-C 7902.03(b)	RSA 106-J:3, II
Saf-C 7902.03(c)	RSA 541-A:7
Saf-C 7902.03(d)	RSA 21-P:7
Saf-C 7902.03(e)	RSA 105-D:1, V
Saf-C 7902.03(f)	RSA 106-M:1, V
Saf-C 7902.03(g)	RSA 541-A:7
Saf-C 7902.03(h)	RSA 106-J:3, III
Saf-C 7902.04 – 7902.05	RSA 106-J:4
Saf-C 7902.06	RSA 106-J:5, II, III