How long does NCIC retain information about missing persons?

The retention of information about missing persons in the NCIC is determined by a policy that mandates keeping such records until the person's status is resolved. This means that the data will remain in the system until law enforcement can confirm whether the person is found, has returned, or is deceased. This policy ensures comprehensive tracking of missing persons cases and helps facilitate ongoing investigations.

The other choices present notions that don't align with the established NCIC guidelines. Retaining information until someone is confirmed deceased (as noted in one option) does not encompass the possibility of recovering a missing person alive, while a minimum five-year retention does not apply, as cases can be resolved before that timeframe. The option suggesting data retention only for the duration of the investigation fails to acknowledge the ongoing nature of missing persons investigations, which may continue even after active searches are scaled back.