3.3 The Involvement of different professionals

It is very important to be aware that a search is an emergency and should be treated as such. The services participating in a search device must be trained and informed in advance of the risks they will face during the search.

This information helps prevent accidents and avoids taking unnecessary risks. You must also have the corresponding insurance that covers at least the risks of accidents and civil liability.

Every participant in a search must be registered at the Command Post to have proof of their participation.

Participants who will be part of the active search on the ground will be distributed into search teams. Each team will be coordinated by a team leader, a figure who will be assigned exclusively to personnel “with search training” and who will assume responsibility for that group and the duty to report the risks associated with the search.

In no case will a search team be formed exclusively of volunteer personnel without training in searches. If any incident occurs during the search, the team leader will notify the Command Post and it will be managed.

Within the involvement of professionals we can find a large multidisciplinary team-

Psychologists play a crucial role in emotional support and stress management in missing persons cases, both for family members and others affected by the situation. Here are some ways psychologists can help in these cases:

• Emotional support: Psychologists provide a safe and confidential space for family members to express their emotions, such as distress, anxiety, sadness and confusion. They help validate these feelings and offer coping techniques to manage them in a healthy way.
• Individual and family counseling: Psychologists work with both the missing person’s relatives and other family members to address the specific emotional and psychological needs of each individual. They provide personalized advice and help strengthen family ties in times of crisis.
• Stress and uncertainty management: Psychologists offer strategies for managing the stress and uncertainty associated with the disappearance of a loved one. This may include relaxation, mindfulness, and problem-solving techniques to help family members stay focused and cope effectively.
• Support during the search: During the search for the missing person, psychologists can provide ongoing emotional support and help family members establish self-care strategies. They can also offer guidance on how to handle the intermittent hope and hopelessness you may experience during the search process.
• Aid in decision making: Psychologists can help family members make difficult decisions related to searching, disseminating information, and managing legal and financial matters. They provide support to evaluate options and make informed decisions that respect the family’s values and wishes.
• Referrals to additional resources: Psychologists can refer family members to other support resources, such as support groups for families of missing persons, specialized trauma counseling services, or legal and financial resources to help manage practical issues. Psychologists play a vital role in emotional support and stress management in missing persons cases. They provide a safe space for family members to express their emotions, offer strategies for managing stress and uncertainty, and assist in making difficult decisions. Your support is invaluable in helping families navigate this difficult situation and find healthy ways to cope.

Hiring private detectives in the search for missing persons is an option that some families consider when they feel they need additional resources to investigate the whereabouts of their loved one. Here are some ways private detectives can help in the search for missing people:

• Thorough Investigation: Private detectives can conduct a thorough investigation to gather information about the missing person, including interviews with family members and acquaintances, reviewing public records, analyzing social media, and following up on potential leads.
• Locating witnesses and relevant people: Private detectives can help locate and interview potential witnesses and other people who may have relevant information about the disappearance. This may include neighbors, friends, co-workers, or anyone who was in contact with the missing person prior to their disappearance.
• Tracking leads and leads: Private detectives can follow leads and leads that may arise during the investigation, including reviewing telecommunications records, searching for security cameras, and tracking suspicious movements or activities.
• Coordination with authorities: Private detectives can coordinate their investigation with law enforcement authorities, providing relevant information and assisting in the search for the missing person in a manner complementary to the official investigation.
• Confidentiality and discretion: Private detectives work with a high degree of confidentiality and discretion to protect the privacy of those involved in the investigation. This can be especially important for families who want to keep their situation as private as possible.

It is essential to ensure that the detective is properly licensed and has experience in missing persons cases. In some countries, hiring private detectives may be subject to specific legal regulations, so it is important to do your research and ensure you comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Civil Protection plays an important role in searching for missing people on the ground, especially in emergency situations or natural disasters. Here are some ways in which Civil Protection can contribute to the search for missing people:

• Coordination and management of operations: Civil Protection can coordinate and manage search and rescue operations in collaboration with other government agencies, emergency teams and volunteers. This includes allocating resources, planning search strategies and monitoring field activities.
• Deployment of specialized teams: Civil Protection can deploy specialized search and rescue teams, such as sniffer dogs, diving teams, drones and urban search teams. These teams are trained and equipped to search in different types of terrain and environmental conditions.
• Logistical and technical support: Civil Protection can provide logistical and technical support to search and rescue teams, including the supply of communication equipment, vehicles, tools and materials necessary to carry out search operations.
• Information coordination: Civil Protection can serve as an information coordination center, collecting data on missing persons, coordinating communication between different teams and agencies, and ensuring that information is shared effectively and in a timely manner.
• Psychosocial support: Civil Protection can provide psychosocial support to relatives of missing people and search and rescue teams, offering counseling services, emotional support and guidance during the search process.
• Coordination with other actors: Civil Protection can coordinate with other organizations, such as the police, emergency services, voluntary agencies and civil society organizations, to maximize available resources and ensure a comprehensive and effective response to the situation. of missing persons.

Civil Protection plays a crucial role in searching for missing people on the ground, providing coordination, resources, logistical and psychosocial support, and ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated response to these critical situations.

Search and rescue dogs play a crucial role in the search for missing people, as they have highly developed olfactory skills that allow them to detect human scent even in adverse conditions. Some important aspects about missing search dogs:

• Specialization: There are different types of search and rescue dogs, each specialized in different types of terrain and conditions. For example, some dogs are trained to track in urban areas, while others are better at searching in wooded or mountainous terrain.
• Intensive Training: Search and rescue dogs go through intensive training to develop their tracking and locating skills. This includes familiarization with different human scents, the ability to follow trails on the ground and in the air, and obedience to specific commands from their guide or handler.
• Teamwork: Search and rescue dogs work closely with their handlers or handlers, who direct them to specific search areas and provide support during search operations. Communication between the dog and its handler is essential for the success of the search.
• Ability to detect living people and dead bodies: Some search and rescue dogs are trained to detect the presence of living people, while others are trained to locate dead bodies. This allows an effective response in both rescue situations and body recovery operations.
• Versatility: Search and rescue dogs can adapt to a variety of situations and environments, including natural disasters, medical emergencies, traffic accidents, drowning incidents, and missing person searches in urban and rural areas.
• Emotional Support: In addition to their practical role in search and rescue, search and rescue dogs can also provide emotional support to families of missing persons and search and rescue teams. Their presence can be comforting and motivating during difficult situations.

Search and rescue dogs play an invaluable role in searching for missing people, using their olfactory skills and specialized training to locate individuals in emergency situations and provide hope to affected families.

Lawyers can play several important roles in disappearance cases, both in terms of protecting the legal rights of missing persons and helping their families navigate the legal and procedural aspects associated with the situation. Here are some ways attorneys can be involved in disappearance cases:

• Legal advice to family members: Lawyers can provide legal advice to the missing person’s family members about their legal rights and options. This may include information about the search process, how to file an official missing person report, and how to interact with authorities and other agencies involved in the investigation.
• Legal Representation: Lawyers can represent relatives of the missing person in legal processes related to the search and investigation, such as filing applications for warrants, participating in official investigations, and representing them in subsequent legal proceedings, such as custody of minors or wealth management.
• Evidence Gathering: Attorneys can assist in gathering evidence related to the disappearance, such as obtaining medical, financial, or telecommunications records relevant to the investigation. They may also assist in preparing testimony and presenting evidence during official investigations or court proceedings.
• Assistance with legal and administrative procedures: Lawyers can assist relatives of missing persons with legal and administrative procedures related to the situation, such as obtaining legal documents, managing property or inheritance matters, and finding legal and administrative resources. financial support to support the family during this difficult period.
• Advocating for legal changes and policies: Lawyers may also participate in promoting legal changes and policies aimed at improving the government and community response to disappearances, including the enactment of laws protecting missing persons, improving investigation protocols and search, and strengthening the rights of victims and their families.

Lawyers play an important role in disappearance cases by providing legal advice, representation, assistance with legal and administrative procedures, and promoting legal changes and policies aimed at improving the response to these situations. Your participation can be essential to protect the rights of missing persons and their families, and to seek justice and accountability in cases of disappearances.

Criminology is a multidisciplinary field that studies criminal behavior, the causes of crime, and methods to prevent it. In the context of disappearances, criminologists can play several important roles:

• Criminal Profiling: Criminologists can help law enforcement develop criminal profiles of potential suspects in disappearance cases. This involves analyzing behavioral patterns, motivations and characteristics of potential perpetrators to help guide the investigation.
• Crime scene analysis: Criminologists can provide assistance in analyzing crime scenes related to disappearances, identifying forensic evidence and evaluating the dynamics of events that led to the disappearance.
• Risk and vulnerability assessment: Criminologists can assess the risk factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to disappearances, both at the individual and community levels. This can help inform prevention and early intervention to reduce the incidence of disappearances.
• Academic research: Criminologists may conduct academic research on the phenomenon of disappearances, including the study of patterns of disappearances, profiles of victims and perpetrators, and the effectiveness of different prevention and response strategies.
• Public policy advice: Criminologists can provide public policy advice on issues related to disappearances, including developing crime prevention policies, reforming the criminal justice system, and supporting victims and their families.
• Support for victims and their families: Criminologists can offer emotional support and advice to victims of disappearances and their families, helping them understand the investigation process, their legal rights and the options available to seek justice and support.

Criminologists play an important role in the analysis, prevention and response to disappearances, using their expertise in the study of criminal behavior and the factors that contribute to crime to inform research, public policy and support for victims.

Associations of missing persons are organizations that provide support and resources to the families of missing persons. These associations play a crucial role in the search for missing people, as well as in defending the rights of victims and their families. Among the most important functions they usually perform are:

• Emotional support: They provide a safe and supportive space where family members of missing people can share their experiences, find comfort and receive emotional support from others who have gone through similar situations.
• Advice and guidance: They offer advice and guidance to families on the steps to take after a loved one goes missing, including how to file an official report, how to interact with authorities, and how to access resources and support services.
• Information Gathering: They collect information about missing persons, including details about the circumstances of their disappearance, physical characteristics, photographs, and any other relevant information that may assist in the search.
• Information dissemination: They disseminate information about missing people through awareness campaigns, social networks, media and other platforms, with the aim of increasing the visibility of the cases and obtaining useful information that can help in the search.
• Advocacy and advocacy: They advocate for the rights of victims and their families before government authorities, urging a more effective and compassionate response to disappearances, as well as the implementation of policies and measures that support affected families.
• Collaboration with authorities and organizations: They collaborate with law enforcement authorities, government organizations and other non-governmental organizations involved in the search for and response to disappearances, with the aim of coordinating efforts and maximizing resources.
• Legal and administrative support: They provide legal and administrative support to families of missing persons, including assistance in filing complaints, legal and administrative procedures, and access to legal advice and representation services.
• Commemoration and awareness: They organize commemorative and awareness events to remember missing persons, honor their memory and raise awareness about the reality of disappearances and their impact on families and society in general.

Missing persons’ associations play a vital role in searching for, supporting and advocating for the families of missing persons, providing resources, emotional support, guidance and advocacy at a time of great distress and vulnerability.