Missing Persons Protocol
Megan’s Law
Under Megan’s Law, members of the general public may request community notification
flyers for information concerning sexually violent predators in a particular community
by visiting the chief of law enforcement officer in that community. In a jurisdiction
where the State Police is the primary law enforcement agency, members of the general
public may make such requests at the local State Police unit in Albany, GA.
Purpose:
This policy contains the official notification procedures of Albany State University
concerning missing students who reside on and off campus, in accordance with the requirements
of the Higher Education Opportunity Act HEOA of 2008. The purpose of this policy is
to promote the safety and welfare of the campus community through compliance with
the HEOA requirements and should be adhered to by all members of the campus community,
faculty, staff, and students.
Procedures:
The report of a missing person is a serious matter. If you have reason to believe
that person is missing from Albany State University Campus, immediately notify ASU
Police. Regardless of whether a person is underaged or emancipated, the same procedures
are followed.
All calls regarding missing persons on campus will be dispatched and assigned to an
officer for initial investigation.
An individual will be considered missing if a roommate, classmate, faculty/staff member,
family member, or other campus person has not seen the person in a reasonable amount
of time (24 hours is the norm). A reasonable amount of time may vary with time of
day and information available regarding the missing person’s family daily schedule,
habits, punctually, and reliability.
In conjunction with the police investigation, the Chief of Police or his designee
will contact the person for notification and hopes to find out additional information
about the student that may help in the investigation. Local law enforcement and other
resources such as the media will be notified if needed in the efforts to find the
missing students. Social Media will be a tool that will be used in the search efforts
also.
In accordance with general institutional emergency notification procedures, when a
University student is thought to be missing from campus, staff in the University administration
should be immediately notified. Specifically, staff in the Student Affairs and Success
and the Police department. They will coordinate efforts to locate the student.
The appropriate Student Affairs representative, or other individual learning that
a student is missing, will file a formal missing student report with the University
police.
It will be made clear to all students annually, that each residential student of the
University has the option to designate an individual to be contacted by University
administration no later than 24 hours after the time that Albany State University
determines the student is missing. Albany State University provides each student with
the means and opportunity to register their confidential Missing Student contact information
by logging into the Banner We system and filling out the Address and Contact Information
form. This information is only accessible to University employees who are authorized
campus officials and this information will not disclosed to others with the exception
to law enforcement personnel in the furtherance of a missing student investigation.
In accordance with Albany State University procedures, it should be noted that Albany
State University will inform each residential student that Albany State University
will notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency or campus security department,
when a student has gone missing, unless the local law enforcement agency was the entity
that made the determination that the student was missing, and;
If the campus law enforcement personnel or campus security department has been notified
that a student has gone missing, and makes a determination that a student who is the
subject of a missing person report has been missing for more than 24 hours, Albany
State University staff will initiate emergency contact procedures as outlined in Albany
State University’s policy and protocol.
Ways to try to find the person:
- Call missing persons phone and send a text message.
- Interview roommates and known friends
- Look at social networking sites such as Facebook for any activity
- Attempt to locate student’s vehicle on campus
Individuals will also be considered missing immediately, if their absence has occurred under circumstances that are suspicious or cause concerns for their safety.
How to Report a Missing Person
If you believe a person is missing, you can report either of the campus law enforcement
for on campus incidents or local law enforcement:
ASU Police Department (229) 430-4711 or off campus Albany 911 Center (911)
If a student is found to be missing through investigation by ASU PD or local law enforcement,
the Vice President for Student Affairs will contact the student’s parents or emergency
contact person.