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Home » US Law » 2022 West Virginia Code » Chapter 15. Public Safety » Article 3D. Missing Persons Act » §15-3D-5. Missing Persons Investigation Requirements

(a) A law-enforcement agency may not delay an investigation of a missing persons complaint on the basis of a written or unwritten policy requiring that a certain period of time pass after any event, including the receipt of a complaint, before an investigation may commence; and shall commence an active investigation immediately upon receipt of the missing persons complaint.

(b) A law-enforcement agency may not refuse to accept a missing person report over which it has investigatory jurisdiction.

(c) A law-enforcement agency is not required to obtain written authorization before publicly releasing any photograph that would aid in the location or recovery of a missing person.

(d) The lead law-enforcement agency shall notify the complainant, a family member, or other person in a position to assist in efforts to locate the missing person of the following:

(1) Whether additional information or materials would aid in the location of the missing person, such as information related to credit or debit cards the missing person may have access to, other banking information, or phone or computer records;