50 ILCS 722/5

(50 ILCS 722/5)

Sec. 5. Missing person reports.

(a) Report acceptance. All law enforcement agencies shall accept without delay any report of a missing person and may attempt to obtain a DNA sample from the missing person or a DNA reference sample created from family members' DNA samples for submission under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 10. Acceptance of a missing person report filed in person may not be refused on any ground. No law enforcement agency may refuse to accept a missing person report:

(1) on the basis that the missing person is an adult;

(2) on the basis that the circumstances do not indicate foul play;

(3) on the basis that the person has been missing for a short period of time;

(4) on the basis that the person has been missing a long period of time;

(5) on the basis that there is no indication that the missing person was in the jurisdiction served by the law enforcement agency at the time of the disappearance;

(6) on the basis that the circumstances suggest that the disappearance may be voluntary;

(7) on the basis that the reporting individual does not have personal knowledge of the facts;

(8) on the basis that the reporting individual cannot provide all of the information requested by the law enforcement agency;

(9) on the basis that the reporting individual lacks a familial or other relationship with the missing person;

(9-5) on the basis of the missing person's mental state or medical condition; or

(10) for any other reason.

(b) Manner of reporting. All law enforcement agencies shall accept missing person reports in person. Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to accept reports by phone or by electronic or other media to the extent that such reporting is consistent with law enforcement policies or practices.

(c) Contents of report. In accepting a report of a missing person, the law enforcement agency shall attempt to gather relevant information relating to the disappearance. The law enforcement agency shall attempt to gather at the time of the report information that shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(1) the name of the missing person, including alternative names used;

(2) the missing person's date of birth;

(3) the missing person's identifying marks, such as birthmarks, moles, tattoos, and scars;

(4) the missing person's height and weight;

(5) the missing person's gender;

(6) the missing person's race;

(7) the missing person's current hair color and true or natural hair color;

(8) the missing person's eye color;

(9) the missing person's prosthetics, surgical implants, or cosmetic implants;

(10) the missing person's physical anomalies;

(11) the missing person's blood type, if known;

(12) the missing person's driver's license number, if known;

(13) the missing person's social security number, if known;

(14) a photograph of the missing person; recent photographs are preferable and the agency is encouraged to attempt to ascertain the approximate date the photograph was taken;

(15) a description of the clothing the missing person was believed to be wearing;

(16) a description of items that might be with the missing person, such as jewelry, accessories, and shoes or boots;

(17) information on the missing person's electronic communications devices, such as cellular telephone numbers and e-mail addresses;

(18) the reasons why the reporting individual believes that the person is missing;

(19) the name and location of the missing person's school or employer, if known;

(20) the name and location of the missing person's dentist or primary care physician or provider, or both, if known;

(21) any circumstances that may indicate that the disappearance was not voluntary;

(22) any circumstances that may indicate that the missing person may be at risk of injury or death;

(23) a description of the possible means of transportation of the missing person, including make, model, color, license number, and Vehicle Identification Number of a vehicle;

(24) any identifying information about a known or possible abductor or person last seen with the missing person, or both, including:

(A) name;

(B) a physical description;

(C) date of birth;

(D) identifying marks;

(E) the description of possible means of transportation, including make, model, color, license number, and Vehicle Identification Number of a vehicle;

(F) known associates;

(25) any other information that may aid in locating the missing person; and

(26) the date of last contact.

(d) Notification and follow up action.

(1) Notification. The law enforcement agency shall notify the person making the report, a family member, or other person in a position to assist the law enforcement agency in its efforts to locate the missing person of the following:

(A) general information about the handling of the missing person case or about intended efforts in the case to the extent that the law enforcement agency determines that disclosure would not adversely affect its ability to locate or protect the missing person or to apprehend or prosecute any person criminally involved in the disappearance;

(B) that the person should promptly contact the law enforcement agency if the missing person remains missing in order to provide additional information and materials that will aid in locating the missing person such as the missing person's credit cards, debit cards, banking information, and cellular telephone records; and

(C) that any DNA samples provided for the missing person case are provided on a voluntary basis and will be used solely to help locate or identify the missing person and will not be used for any other purpose.

The law enforcement agency, upon acceptance of a missing person report, shall inform the reporting citizen of one of 2 resources, based upon the age of the missing person. If the missing person is under 18 years of age, contact information for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shall be given. If the missing person is age 18 or older, contact information for the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) organization shall be given.

The law enforcement agency is encouraged to make available informational materials, through publications or electronic or other media, that advise the public about how the information or materials identified in this subsection are used to help locate or identify missing persons.

(2) Follow up action. If the person identified in the missing person report remains missing after 30 days, but not more than 60 days, the law enforcement agency may generate a report of the missing person within the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and the law enforcement agency may attempt to obtain the additional information and materials that have not been received, specified below:

(A) DNA samples from family members or from the missing person along with any needed documentation, or both, including any consent forms, required for the use of State or federal DNA databases, including, but not limited to, the Local DNA Index System (LDIS), State DNA Index System (SDIS), National DNA Index System (NDIS), and National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) partner laboratories;

(B) an authorization to release dental or skeletal x-rays of the missing person;

(C) any additional photographs of the missing person that may aid the investigation or an identification; the law enforcement agency is not required to obtain written authorization before it releases publicly any photograph that would aid in the investigation or identification of the missing person;

(D) dental information and x-rays; and

(E) fingerprints.

(3) Samples collected for DNA analysis may be submitted to a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) partner laboratory or other resource where DNA profiles are entered into local, State, and national DNA Index Systems within 60 days. The Illinois State Police shall establish procedures for determining how to prioritize analysis of the samples relating to missing person cases. All DNA samples obtained in missing person cases from family members of the missing person may not be retained after the location or identification of the remains of the missing person unless there is a search warrant signed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(4) This subsection shall not be interpreted to preclude a law enforcement agency from attempting to obtain the materials identified in this subsection before the expiration of the 30-day period. The responsible law enforcement agency may make a National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) report on the missing person within 60 days after the report of the disappearance of the missing person.

(5) Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to establish written protocols for the handling of missing person cases to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-266, eff. 1-1-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)