Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to wait to file a missing person report in Oregon?
There is no 24-hour waiting period to report someone missing! If you feel like they are in immediate danger, contact 911.
Otherwise, to report a missing person, contact the local nonemergency police in the city or county that the person was last known to reside or went missing from.
Anyone can file a missing person’s report, even if you do not know the missing individual, you just have to know that they are missing.
When I call to file a missing person report, what information do I need to provide the police?
At minimum, law enforcement shall attempt to obtain the following information:
Missing Person’s name, date of birth, and complete physical description.
Complete physical description shall include, when known and if applicable: gender, height, weight/build, skin, hair, and eye color, hair style, facial hair, clothing, and scars/marks/tattoos.
Date, time, and location the Missing Person was last seen, and with/by whom.
Direction of travel and relevant vehicle information, if applicable.
Missing Person’s cellphone number and carrier, if available.
Juvenile Missing Person or Juvenile Runaway’s legal guardian; and
Existence of any open juvenile dependency or delinquency case.
When Should a DNA Sample be Completed?
If the missing person has not been located within 30 days of a report, investigators may try to get a DNA sample of the missing person or from biological family members. They may also try to get diagnostic quality copies of the missing person’s dental records from their dentist and/or orthodontist.
These samples provide biological material for DNA analysis. When successfully completed, the DNA profiles are entered into a national system called CODIS. This system allows federal, state and local crime laboratories and medical examiner’s offices to electronically exchange and compare DNA profiles.
