Behavioral patterns of missing persons

Simon Slokan, Sebastian Mohorič, Alojz Sladič

Purpose:

The purpose of the paper is to show the meaning of behavioural patterns of missing persons and its application/the application of such knowledge with services actively searching for missing persons. It also shows the historical development of behavioural patterns of missing persons and the legislative frame in Slovenia that is applied with activities to find missing persons.

Design/Methods/Approach:

The paper is based on a literature and normative bases review, which we reviewed using a descriptive method. At the same time also includes findings from the research frame and direct daily operative work with missing persons.

Findings:

Our research shows that the meaning of behavioural patterns in missing persons in Slovenia is recognized however the legislation for its use is not yet established and cannot be used in daily operations. As a result services who actively seeking missing persons still carry on with activities without the aid of the aforementioned research.

Research Limitations / Implications:

Our research is manly limited on the theoretical frame; its applicable value however references the research that was conducted in a separate paper (Mohorič, 2017). There is no legislative framework/ normative base for behavioural patterns in Slovenia.

Originality/Value:

The findings in the article are presented on the basis of the perspective and experience of the authors, who deal with the mentioned field on a daily basis at the normative and operational level, both in work and private time. Based on the authors' experience in conducting search campaigns for missing persons, combining knowledge from the literature and being aware that there are no similar presentations of the mentioned content in Slovenia (yet), the article will significantly contribute to understanding the importance of the mentioned content. also at the normative level.

UDC: 351.741:364.642.6

Keywords: Behavioural pattern of the missing person, missing persons, police, searching for missing persons, search actions