How long will Unidentified Person Files records be retained until the entering agency clears or cancels the record?

Unidentified Person Files records will be retained indefinitely until the entering agency clears or cancels the record. This approach ensures that law enforcement agencies have ongoing access to important information that may aid in identifying individuals over time. Unidentified persons may be linked to cold cases or developments that emerge long after the record is created, making it essential for these records to remain accessible.

Other retention periods, such as for a specific policy duration or a maximum of five years, do not accommodate the long-term investigative needs associated with unidentified individuals. Retaining records until a person is identified is accurate but does not fully capture the indefinite nature of the record retention as mandated by NCIC policies.