Foundation Partners
JFF has selected partners who support our work on behalf of families with missing adults.
The Center for Hope, Inc. and Surviving Parents Coalition
Doug and Mary Lyall, parents of Suzanne Lyall, missing since 1998
20 Prospect Street, Suite 103 Chocolate Factory, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
jdlmary@hope4themissing.org
Telephone: 518-884-8761
Mary and Doug Lyall and Suzanne Lyall
Mary and Doug Lyall are the parents of Suzanne who was last seen Monday, March 2, 1998 at 9:45PM exiting a CDTA bus at Collins Circle, on the University at Albany Uptown Campus. Suzanne was a sophomore at the University of Albany. Since that fateful day when Suzanne disappeared Mary and Doug have worked tirelessly in search for their daughter and in service to other families suffering similarly. They established the Center for Hope and have accomplished a great deal in honor of Suzanne.
The Center for Hope, Inc. is a not for profit organization with the mission of providing resources to educate, assist and support families and friends to cope with the pain and uncertainty surrounding the ambiguous loss of a loved one; to reflect, remember, and to join with others in recognizing and honoring all missing persons. As such, Mary and Doug were committed to creating a memorial in honor of all missing persons. They succeeded in having a beautiful tribute created in Albany, New York that features an eternal flame signifying the light guiding loved ones home. In addition, in 2003 they successfully passed federal legislation, Suzanne's Law, that requires police to notify the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) when someone between 18 and 21 is reported missing, as part of the national "Amber Alert" bill. Mary and Doug were also instrumental in creating the New York State Campus Safety Act which passed on a federal level in 2008.
They also created the Assault and Abduction Free School Zone Bill, a computerized system to report information about missing persons to all toll booths and rest stops on the New York Thruway, a mandate to profile missing persons on the New York State Income Tax forms, and a proclamation declaring April 6th Missing Person's Day in New York. Mary and Doug also helped establish a partnership with The Nation's Missing Children Organization and Center for Missing Adults. They also worked with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice to develop the "Investigative Guide for Missing College Students."
Throughout all of their efforts, Mary and Doug remain hopeful that someone, someday will come forward with information that will lead them to Suzanne.
WHO WE ARE
The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center has a proven history of helping kids and families.
VISION
End all forms of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation through training, education, advocacy, prevention and awareness, providing care and treatment for children, families, and adult survivors.
MISSION
We work to end all forms of child maltreatment through education, training and prevention while advocating for and serving children, adult survivors and communities.
VALUES - WE BELIEVE
It's a kid's job to be a kid; it's the responsibility of adults to see every child as someone who may need their help and protection.
Children are never responsible for their own victimization. They often lack the understanding of exploitation, and therefore never "go willingly."
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Victim Assistance Helpline: 24/7 coverage offering information, support, advocacy and connection to resources for individuals, families and communities around issues related to missing persons, abuse and exploitation.
WHAT PARENTS SAY
-
"As a parent, it's difficult to think about someone who wants to sexually exploit or take my child, but it's an issue JWRC has helped me learn to address with my children in positive, healthy ways..."
-
"I was surprised to learn that those most likely to exploit or abduct a child are most likely known to the child, family or neighborhood; the vast majority are not strangers..."
-
"With all the media attention on abductions and sexual predators, I'm afraid to let my kids go out of my sight! Yet JWRC has helped me realize the importance of doing just that, once we practice what-if scenarios that prepare us for anything..."
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE CALL US AT: (800) 325-HOPE
VICTIM ASSISTANCE
GET HELP NOW THROUGH (800) 325-HOPE
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
Resource Referral
Case Management
Safety Planning
Assistance with Police & Media
We believe every person has the right to grow up free from harm to live out their full potential.
JWRC works closely with law enforcement, national and local non-profit organizations, legislators and the media to assist victim families. Access to expert assistance and emotional support during the difficult process of locating a missing child or finding support for exploited children has a profound impact on victim families who often don't know where to start
CUE Center for Missing Persons - Providing Search Resources Nationwide
Post Office Box 12714
Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
(910) 343-1131 / (910) 232-1687
“Rallying search parties quickly is an important capability in an arena where time may mean the difference between life and death. CUE members said the organization exists in part to bridge a gap between families and law enforcement. The latter, constrained by increasingly tight budgets and finite manpower, are sometimes unable to muster resources that families believe their cases deserve.
The volume of missing persons reports filed each year is staggering. In 2010, 85,820 people were reported missing nationwide, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But law enforcement officials say a vast majority of those involve people skipping town voluntarily. Since state and local governments have been forced to shed officers to fill budget gaps, detectives more than ever have to weigh relevant facts before launching a full-fledged investigation.
Since its inception in 1994 CUE has processed more than 9,000 cases of missing people. CUE pours volumes of time and resources into each one, printing fliers, buying billboards, creating websites and launching searches.”
WELCOME TO NAMUS MISSING PERSONS
This site provides an opportunity for families, law enforcement agencies and investigators to search nationwide for missing persons using a variety of powerful search features. Anyone may search the database, but by registering in the system both law enforcement professionals and the general public will also be able to:
ADD NEW MISSING PERSONS CASES
ADD PHYSICAL AND CIRCUMSTANTIAL DETAILS, PHOTOGRAPHS, DENTAL CONTACTS AND OTHER CRITICAL PIECES OF INFORMATION TO A CASE
CREATE AND PRINT MISSING PERSONS POSTERS
TRACK MULTIPLE CASES AS INFORMATION IS ADDED TO THE SYSTEM
With your help, we can increase the number of missing persons cases solved each year providing closure for families and law enforcement officials nationwide.
Although the problem of missing persons and unidentified human remains in this country has existed for a long time, significant progress has been made in recent years. In 2003, the DNA Initiative was launched. The Office of Justice Program's (OJP) National Institute of Justice (NIJ) began funding major efforts to maximize the use of DNA technology in our criminal justice system. Much of NIJ's work has focused on developing tools to investigate and solve the cases of missing persons and unidentified decedents.
The NamUs databases are just one element of a broader program to improve the Nation's capacity to address these cases. For example, NIJ also funds free testing of unidentified human remains and provides family reference-sample kits, at no charge, to any jurisdiction in the country.
Other efforts include training law enforcement officers, medical examiners, judges, and attorneys on forensic DNA evidence.
For questions about the NamUs system, please contact questions@findthemissing.org.