2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 68.50.320: Procedures for investigating missing persons — Availability of files (as amended by 2006 c 102).

When a person reported missing has not been found within thirty days of the report, or at any time the investigating agency suspects criminal activity to be the basis of the victim being missing, the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority initiating and conducting the investigation for the missing person shall: (1) File a missing person's report with the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit; (2) initiate the collection of DNA samples from the known missing person and their family members for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA testing along with the necessary consent forms; and (3) ask the missing person's family or next of kin to give written consent to contact the dentist or dentists of the missing person and request the person's dental records.

((When a person reported missing has not been found within thirty days, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority initiating and conducting the investigation for the missing person shall confer with the county coroner or medical examiner prior to the preparation of a missing person's report. After conferring with the coroner or medical examiner, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority shall submit a missing person's report and the dental records received under this section to the dental identification system of the state patrol identification and criminal history section on forms supplied by the state patrol for such purpose.))

As soon as possible after collecting the DNA samples and obtaining the dental records, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority shall submit the DNA samples for nuclear DNA testing to the Washington state patrol crime laboratory in their jurisdiction. The DNA samples for mitochondrial DNA testing shall be submitted to the federal bureau of investigation. Dental records shall be submitted as soon as possible to the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit.

The descriptive information from missing person's reports and dental data submitted to the *state patrol missing persons and unidentified persons unit shall be recorded and maintained by the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit in the applicable dedicated missing person's data bases.

In cases where criminal activity is suspected, the state patrol shall conduct nuclear DNA typing for entry into the state missing person's DNA data base as soon as possible.

When a person reported missing has been found, the sheriff, chief of police, coroner or medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority shall report such information to the state patrol.

The dental identification system shall maintain a file of information regarding persons reported to it as missing. The file shall contain the information referred to in this section and such other information as the state patrol finds relevant to assist in the location of a missing person.

The files of the dental identification system shall, upon request, be made available to law enforcement agencies attempting to locate missing persons.

[2006 c 102 § 6; 2001 c 223 § 1; 1984 c 17 § 18; 1983 1st ex.s. c 16 § 16. Formerly RCW 68.08.355.]

*Reviser's note: The term "state patrol missing persons and unidentified persons unit" apparently refers to "Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit."      Finding -- Intent -- 2006 c 102: See note following RCW 36.28A.100. RCW 68.50.320 When a person reported missing has not been found within thirty days of the report, the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority initiating and conducting the investigation for the missing person shall ask the missing person's family or next of kin to give written consent to contact the dentist or dentists of the missing person and request the person's dental records. The missing person's dentist or dentists shall provide diagnostic quality copies of the missing person's dental records or original dental records to the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority, when presented with the written consent from the missing person's family or next of kin or with a statement from the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority that the missing person's family or next of kin could not be located in the exercise of due diligence or that the missing person's family or next of kin refuse to consent to the release of the missing person's dental records and there is reason to believe that the missing person's family or next of kin may have been involved in the missing person's disappearance. When a person reported missing has not been found within thirty days, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority initiating and conducting the investigation for the missing person shall confer with the county coroner or medical examiner prior to the preparation of a missing person's report. After conferring with the coroner or medical examiner, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority shall submit a missing person's report and the dental records received under this section to the dental identification system of the state patrol *identification, child abuse, vulnerable adult abuse, and criminal history section on forms supplied by the state patrol for such purpose. When a person reported missing has been found, the sheriff, chief of police, coroner or medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority shall report such information to the state patrol. The dental identification system shall maintain a file of information regarding persons reported to it as missing. The file shall contain the information referred to in this section and such other information as the state patrol finds relevant to assist in the location of a missing person. The files of the dental identification system shall, upon request, be made available to law enforcement agencies attempting to locate missing persons. [2006 c 235 § 4; 2001 c 223 § 1; 1984 c 17 § 18; 1983 1st ex.s. c 16 § 16. Formerly RCW 68.08.355.] Notes: 68.50.320 was amended twice during the 2006 legislative session, each without reference to the other. For rule of construction concerning sections amended more than once during the same legislative session, see RCW 1.12.025.      Purpose -- Effective date -- 2006 c 235: See notes following RCW 70.02.050.      Severability -- Effective date -- 1983 1st ex.s. c 16: See RCW 43.103.900 and 43.103.901. Missing children clearinghouse and hot line: Chapter 13.60 RCW.