Mandating NamUs for Massachusetts is vital. 

If you or your loved one goes missing, what happens next, and what resources are used to help you and your family?

Over 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year. Fortunately, many missing children and adults are quickly found, alive and well. However, tens of thousands of individuals remain missing for more than one year – what many agencies consider "cold cases.” It is estimated that 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year, with approximately 1,000 of those bodies remaining unidentified after one year.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Although NamUS is available to ALL states, only 12 states require reports to NamUs and Massachusetts isn't one of them. Mandating NamUs can help close more cases, and help other departments being able to have access to case information nationally. 

In New York NY EXC Law 837 as amended by S6739 requires that missing persons be reported to NamUs within 30 days. In addition, medical examiners and coroners must report unidentified remains to NamUs.  Massachusetts needs to follow suit.