Starting January 1st, 2026, a new Missing Persons Identification Act will be in effect. Monmouth Police Chief Joe Switzer explains how this allows for immediate reports of a missing person:
“It used to be when someone went missing, there was a time period that you couldn’t report them missing until that time was met. Now the new law that was signed and will take effect January 1st, it ends that waiting period. You can report someone missing immediately. I think that is beneficial. There are times where people may have dementia, no one has had contact with them for a while or no one has seen them or talked to them, report that right away. We have had times where we found that person wondering around or they are driving, which they probably shouldn’t be driving, and we are able to secure them and get them safely back to their families or to wherever they should be at.”
Under the new Missing Person Identification Act, law enforcement will take missing person reports immediately and cases will remain under active investigation until the person is found of leads are exhausted. Cases will not be closed simply because leads have run out.
