R.E.A.C.H.

Return Every Adult and Child Home (R.E.A.C.H.)


• What is R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. is a database of children and adults with cognitive disorders that make them both more likely to become a missing person and that potentially limit their ability to communicate with the police and others.

• Why should I register my family member or ward with R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. registration will assist the police with a swift response to missing person calls. Time is CRITICAL in these incidents. With R.E.A.C.H., a missing person alert with a recent photograph will quickly be available to police officers on patrol. Planning ahead for the worst case scenario ensures that the police have comprehensive and correct information on the missing person to utilize in a targeted search.

• Who can be registered in R.E.A.C.H.?
Examples of individuals who are good candidates for registration in the R.E.A.C.H. registry include those affected by Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, Down Syndrome, mental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, etc. There is no age restriction or minimum capacity requirement for registration.

• Do you need to be a Nassau County resident to register?
Registration is limited to persons with a nexus to Nassau County through either residence or caregiver location (e.g. school, day program, or frequented location).

• How do you register a person in R.E.A.C.H.?
Call Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence at (516) 573-5775, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for an appointment.

• How much does registration cost?
Registration is free.

• What information is included in R.E.A.C.H.?
R.E.A.C.H. includes a photograph, biographical information, and other information pertinent for locating and dealing with registrants such as likely destinations and anything else we should know, e.g. does not like physical contact, non-verbal, likes trains, etc.

• Do I need a recent photograph for registration?
No. At registration, a police officer will take a picture of the registrant. This guarantees that the photograph we have is the most up-to-date image and is clear.

• Who has access to the information included in the R.E.A.C.H. database?
R.E.A.C.H. is a law enforcement-maintained and secure database that is accessible to the N.C.P.D. from both desktops and in-vehicle computers.

•  What information is made public in the event a registrant is missing?

The photograph, along with a physical description, area missing from, and likely destinations will be released. Other personal information remains confidential.

• How is R.E.A.C.H. connected to the Silver Alert system?
R.E.A.C.H. is an expansion of the Silver Alert system that will assist the Police Department with a swift response to missing person calls.

• Does R.E.A.C.H. have a proactive policing component?
Yes. Through the R.E.A.C.H. database, police officers will be familiar with the locations where R.E.A.C.H. registrants reside in their area of patrol. This familiarization can assist with early recovery as police officers may observe registrants in unsafe areas or situations and safely return them even prior to any missing alarm being raised.

R.E.A.C.H. is a searchable database. If the police come into contact with a disoriented or nonverbal person, a physical description of the subject can be run in R.E.A.C.H. to obtain a picture match. If a match is found, contact information will be available to return the adult or child home.

• What should I do if a R.E.A.C.H. registrant goes missing?

Call 911 immediately and inform both the operator and the police officer who responds that the missing person is registered in the R.E.A.C.H. program.