The Missing Persons Unit is under the direction of the Homicide Unit commander and is staffed by four detectives and one supervisor. In a typical year, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office receives over 6,000 missing persons reports. Approximately 70% of those reports involve juveniles between the age of 13 and 17 which also constitute the largest number of habitual runaways. Historically, over 90% of habitual runaways are located or return on their own within ten days.

Considering that, and to help manage the large number of cases, patrol officers who take reports of habitual runaways where foul play is not suspected are responsible for the investigation for the first ten days before the case is referred to the Missing Persons Unit.

A common misconception is that someone must wait 24 hours before making a missing persons report. While there is no such time limit, unless the missing person is a juvenile, a report of a missing adult will only be taken if there is an indication of accident, foul play, or unusual circumstances; the missing person is in need of urgent medical treatment; the missing person is mentally incompetent, emotionally unstable or suicidal; or the missing person is drug or alcohol dependent to the extent they pose a danger to themselves or others.

On average, Missing Persons detectives investigate about 3,000 cases per year and in any given year less than 10 reports truly involve foul play.

For more information about the Missing Persons Unit,

Contact Us:

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Missing Persons Unit

Police Memorial Building

501 E. Bay Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

(904) 630-2627