Identification of dead bodies; missing persons.
1. When a coroner is unable to establish the identity of a dead body by means other than by dental records, he shall have a dental examination of the body made by a dentist. The dentist shall prepare a record of his findings and forward it to the Investigation Division and to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History.
2. Each sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency which receives a report of a person missing under suspicious circumstances who is 18 years or older shall:
(a) Transmit to the Investigation Division and to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History:
(1) The initial report that contains identifying information concerning the missing person within 72 hours after the receipt of that report; and
(2) Any subsequent report concerning the missing person within 5 working days after the receipt of that report if the report contains additional identifying information concerning the missing person;
(b) Notify immediately such persons and make inquiries concerning the missing person as the agency deems necessary; and
(c) Enter the information concerning the missing person into the computer for the National Crime Information Center and the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History, if appropriate.
3. The sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency shall request the written consent of the next of kin or guardian of a person who has been reported to him as missing for 30 days or more to obtain certain identifying information about the missing person that the National Crime Information Center recommends be provided from the appropriate providers of medical care. After receiving the written consent, the sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency shall obtain the identifying information from the providers of medical care and forward that information and any other relevant information to the Investigation Division and to the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for comparison with the identifying information that is on file concerning unidentified deceased persons. This subsection does not prevent the voluntary release of identifying information about the missing person by the next of kin or guardian of the missing person at any time.
4. The next of kin or guardian of the person reported as missing shall promptly notify the appropriate law enforcement agency when the missing person is found.
5. The sheriff, chief of police or other law enforcement agency shall inform the Investigation Division, the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History and the National Crime Information Center when a missing person has been found.
6. The Investigation Division and the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History shall:
(a) Maintain the records and other information forwarded to them pursuant to subsections 1, 2 and 3 for the purpose of comparing the records and otherwise assisting in the identification of dead bodies; and
(b) Upon request, provide the records and other information that are maintained pursuant to this subsection to the State Disaster Identification Team of the Division of Emergency Management of the Department.
Last modified: February 25, 2006