Video: Upgrading the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System: Introducing NamUs 2.0

• NCJ Number: 252742
• Date Published: May 2018
• Author(s): David Muhlhausen
• Length: 1 page
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This brief video (2 minutes and 48 seconds) provides a summary description of the features and benefits of a clearinghouse known as NamUs 2.0, which contains information on dead bodies recovered by police, but who remain unidentified.

Abstract

It is estimated that nationwide, police recover an average of 4,400 bodies annually; however, approximately 1,000 of these bodies are unidentified and unclaimed. As a means of providing widespread access to potentially identifying information on these unidentified bodies, the U.S. Justice Department's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has developed a clearinghouse called NamUs, which contains available information on the unidentified bodies obtained through forensic and other information known to police. Access to the clearinghouse is provided free to users who are searching for particular missing persons. NamUs 2.0 expands information provided by the clearinghouse to include guidance on technologies and techniques that can be used in profiling and searching for missing persons who may be deceased.