NFWL, DOJ Develop Strategy to Solve Missing Persons Cases
April 29, 2005
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) – Members of NFWL's Task Force on Missing Persons met with John Walsh, host of the television show "America's Most Wanted," and several high-level officials during a national strategy meeting coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Seven women legislators were selected out of over 2,000 women elected officials nationwide to serve on the National Foundation for Women Legislators' (NFWL) Task Force on Missing Persons. This task force will spearhead legislation in all 50 states and territories on the issue of Missing Persons and DNA. Today the NFWL delegation met at the DOJ conference, "Identifying the Missing." The task force was joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials from around the nation for special training on the role of DNA in solving cold cases that involve unidentified remains.
Members of the NFWL Task Force include: Rep. Catherine Barrett (D-OH), Rep. Catherine Ceips (R-SC), Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-KY), Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-ND), Rep. Karen Morgan (D-UT), Del. Joanne Parrott (R-MD), and Rep. Polly Williams (D-WI). Robin Read, President & CEO of NFWL, also joined the Task Force members at the conference.
John Walsh, who has hosted "America's Most Wanted" since 1987, spoke to the legislators about the importance of enacting laws in every state that will serve as a mandate for local law enforcement to send DNA samples for every convicted felon to labs to be analyzed and entered into a national database. Walsh has been an advocate for victims' rights and missing children since his son Adam was abducted and murdered in 1981. The members of the NFWL Task Force vowed to act on Walsh's request and bring this initiative back to the their states.
The Task Force also met with Sarah Hart (Director, National Institute of Justice), Acting Assistant Attorney General Tracey Henke (DOJ), Deputy Assistant Attorney General Cheri Nolan (DOJ), and several other high-level Administration officials.
"The women legislators who serve on this Task Force will play an integral role this year in bringing awareness to this issue nationwide. They have been selected by NFWL and DOJ to work with local law enforcement officials to find a better way to bring closure to so many families who are living with unanswered questions after the disappearance of a loved one," said Robin Read, NFWL President & CEO.
According to the National Crime Information Center, as of March 2005 reports indicate there were at least 5,639 unidentified deceased persons this year nationwide. In many instances, missing persons' cases are considered low-priority, especially when the person in question is an adult. According to DOJ, historically there has been an inability to maximize resources and share information among entities charged with identifying remains and those conducting investigations. With more collaboration across geographic boundaries and fields of expertise, many more cases will be solved.
Prompted by the unprecedented identification efforts of victims after the tragic September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the White House launched the President's DNA Initiative. The President has set aside one billion dollars over the next five years to drastically improve current missing persons' programs. Members of the NFWL Task Force will work with the Administration to raise awareness of this issue in all the states.
The purpose of Missing Persons and DNA conference is to train officials from across the nation on this issue and raise public awareness in the states. Women legislators will work with the Administration and law enforcement officials to disseminate information and encourage collaboration between agencies to help solve Missing Persons cases in their states.
Seven women legislators were selected out of over 2,000 women elected officials nationwide to serve on the National Foundation for Women Legislators' (NFWL) Task Force on Missing Persons. This task force will spearhead legislation in all 50 states and territories on the issue of Missing Persons and DNA. Today the NFWL delegation met at the DOJ conference, "Identifying the Missing." The task force was joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials from around the nation for special training on the role of DNA in solving cold cases that involve unidentified remains.
Members of the NFWL Task Force include: Rep. Catherine Barrett (D-OH), Rep. Catherine Ceips (R-SC), Rep. Joni Jenkins (D-KY), Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-ND), Rep. Karen Morgan (D-UT), Del. Joanne Parrott (R-MD), and Rep. Polly Williams (D-WI). Robin Read, President & CEO of NFWL, also joined the Task Force members at the conference.
John Walsh, who has hosted "America's Most Wanted" since 1987, spoke to the legislators about the importance of enacting laws in every state that will serve as a mandate for local law enforcement to send DNA samples for every convicted felon to labs to be analyzed and entered into a national database. Walsh has been an advocate for victims' rights and missing children since his son Adam was abducted and murdered in 1981. The members of the NFWL Task Force vowed to act on Walsh's request and bring this initiative back to the their states.
The Task Force also met with Sarah Hart (Director, National Institute of Justice), Acting Assistant Attorney General Tracey Henke (DOJ), Deputy Assistant Attorney General Cheri Nolan (DOJ), and several other high-level Administration officials.
"The women legislators who serve on this Task Force will play an integral role this year in bringing awareness to this issue nationwide. They have been selected by NFWL and DOJ to work with local law enforcement officials to find a better way to bring closure to so many families who are living with unanswered questions after the disappearance of a loved one," said Robin Read, NFWL President & CEO.
According to the National Crime Information Center, as of March 2005 reports indicate there were at least 5,639 unidentified deceased persons this year nationwide. In many instances, missing persons' cases are considered low-priority, especially when the person in question is an adult. According to DOJ, historically there has been an inability to maximize resources and share information among entities charged with identifying remains and those conducting investigations. With more collaboration across geographic boundaries and fields of expertise, many more cases will be solved.
Prompted by the unprecedented identification efforts of victims after the tragic September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the White House launched the President's DNA Initiative. The President has set aside one billion dollars over the next five years to drastically improve current missing persons' programs. Members of the NFWL Task Force will work with the Administration to raise awareness of this issue in all the states.
The purpose of Missing Persons and DNA conference is to train officials from across the nation on this issue and raise public awareness in the states. Women legislators will work with the Administration and law enforcement officials to disseminate information and encourage collaboration between agencies to help solve Missing Persons cases in their states.