CA Penal Code Section 14213


(a)

When a person reported missing has been found, the sheriff, chief of police, coroner or medical examiner, or the law enforcement agency locating the missing person shall immediately report that information to the Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General’s office shall then notify the National Crime Information Center that the missing person has been found.

(b)

When a missing person is found, the report indicating that the person is found shall be made not later than 24 hours after the person is found to the law enforcement agency that made the initial missing person report.

(c)

In the event that a missing person is found alive or dead in less than 24 hours and the local police or sheriff’s department has reason to believe that the person had been abducted, the department shall submit a report to the center in a format established by the Attorney General. In the event that a missing person has been found before he or she has been reported missing to the center, the information related to the incident shall be submitted to the center.

(d)

A law enforcement agency shall not establish or maintain any policy that requires the removal of a missing person entry from the center database or the National Crime Information Center database based solely on the age of the missing person.
Last Updated

Aug. 19, 2023

§ 14213’s source at ca​.gov