HB 4345
Relating to the preservation of missing persons records and evidence
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- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a system for preserving records and evidence related to missing persons cases in West Virginia. It requires the West Virginia Fusion Center to create and maintain a database containing detailed information about cold cases and missing persons cases that have been open for at least a year. Law enforcement agencies are mandated to provide this information to the Fusion Center, ensuring that crucial details are collected and retained for future investigation and analysis.
Key provisions
- Creates a West Virginia Fusion Center database for cold cases and unresolved missing persons cases.
- Requires law enforcement agencies to provide detailed information to the Fusion Center, including victim and suspect data, forensic evidence details, and case narratives.
- Mandates the digitization of active and unresolved case files within one year of opening.
- Requires unresolved missing persons cases to be uploaded to the Fusion Center after one year of inactivity.
- Establishes that records and evidence related to missing persons cases must be permanently retained.
- Defines key terms related to missing persons cases, such as ‘cold case’ and ‘unresolved missing persons case.’
- Specifies the types of information that must be included in the database, covering victim details, forensic evidence, and investigative information.
- Allows law enforcement agencies to provide case photos or composite drawings to the Fusion Center.
Who is affected
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