Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 44. LAW ENFORCEMENT

CHAPTER 2. INVESTIGATION, COMMUNICATION, AND IDENTIFICATION

Part 5. Missing Children

Reports To Missing Children Information Program -- Custodial Interference

44-2-504. Reports to missing children information program -- custodial interference. (1) All law enforcement authorities in the state shall submit information regarding a missing child to the missing children information program provided for in 44-2-503.

(2) Any parent, guardian, or legal custodian may submit a missing child report to the missing children information program on any child whose whereabouts is unknown, regardless of the circumstances, subsequent to making a report to the appropriate law enforcement authority.

(3) The parent, guardian, or legal custodian responsible for notifying the missing children information program or a law enforcement authority of a missing child shall immediately notify the authority and the program if the child's location has been determined.

(4) When a law enforcement authority takes a report of what the authority reasonably believes is custodial interference, as described in 45-5-304, the authority shall also collect detailed biographical and contact information for all involved parties, including the reporting party, any alleged suspects, and the alleged missing or involved child. If the whereabouts of the involved child is unknown, the law enforcement authority shall file a missing child report.

History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 559, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 23, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 275, L. 2019.