New Jersey § 52:17b-216

§ 52:17b-216.

a. (1) Upon the initial receipt of a missing person report, a law enforcement agency shall

seek to determine whether the person reported missing is to be designated a high-risk

missing person. (2) If a law enforcement agency has reason to believe that a person reported missing

is a high-risk missing person pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2007, c. 279 ( C.52:17B-212 ), the agency shall contact the appropriate county prosecutor who shall determine

whether the person reported missing is a high-risk missing person. If the prosecutor determines that the person is a high-risk missing person, there

shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person is missing as a result of, or in

association with, criminal activity, and the Missing Persons Unit may seek or obtain

legal process pursuant to subsection h. of section 3 of P.L.1983, c. 467 ( C.52:17B-9.8 ). If the Missing Persons Unit discovers evidence during the investigation which indicates

that the missing person does not meet the definition of a high-risk missing person,

there shall no longer be a rebuttable presumption that the person is missing as a

result of, or in association with, criminal activity, and the Missing Persons Unit

shall not seek or obtain legal process pursuant to subsection h. of section 3 of P.L.1983,

c. 467 ( C.52:17B-9.8 ). The Superior Court, Law Division may release any records that are obtained by the

Missing Persons Unit to a governmental entity upon showing of good cause by the governmental

entity. b. If the initial determination of a person reported missing does not warrant designation

of that person as high risk, it shall not preclude a later determination, based on

further investigation or the discovery of additional information, that the missing

person is high risk.