Families of missing persons who are presumed dead face tremendous emotional turmoil when they are unable to learn about the fates of their loved ones. Despite tremendous scientific advancements, DNA technology is not routinely used in missing persons cases. According to statistics maintained by the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there are nearly 5,000 reported unidentified persons in the United States. (From Using DNA to Identify Missing Persons, a section of Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology).
Read DNA Projects Target Missing Persons for an overview of work being done under the President's DNA Initiative.
The President's Initiative will help ensure that DNA forensic technology is used to its full potential to identify missing persons by providing: