zinc
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2009
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For those who aren't registered NamUs users:
This is obviously not an "upgrade" or "enhancement" but a downgrade for most public users. Information on dentals, fingerprints, and DNA sometimes needs to be restricted for security reasons. Nevertheless, the utility of those sections is now close to zero for amateurs looking for possible matches. It's not uncommon for MP/UID possible matches to have dentals or DNA listed as entered in NamUs yet not be caught by (or not be flagged for) investigators. I plan to mostly (but judiciously) ignore the dentals/DNA/prints sections from now on, especially for possible matches that have been in NamUs for longer than several months.
The reductions to case tracking for public users are more understandable given the notification burden on the system. Still unfortunate since the case tracking feature was the single main feature many public users used.
NamUs said:The NamUs Missing Persons (MP) and Unidentified Persons (UP) databases are undergoing enhancements to improve overall system functionality and services. Effective September 16, 2013, the following changes will be implemented:
Users will have the ability to designate a default case photo that will be used for the NamUs record and posters.
The Police Information screen in the MP and UP databases will be renamed Investigating Agency to better represent the variety of criminal justice agencies involved in these cases.
Public users will no longer see the Activity Log in the MP and UP databases unless the public user has created the case and the message is cleared for their view.
Public users who enter a new missing person case into NamUs will continue to have access to all screens in order to make initial entries into the system. After a case is accepted into the NamUs MP database, an entering party with Public User access to NamUs will be restricted from further viewing of certain sensitive fields, such as specific information related to DNA collections, fingerprint coding and dental coding. Public entering parties may still submit this information to NamUs through their Regional System Administrator (RSA) or criminal justice contact. Entering parties may continue to contact the relevant RSA or criminal justice agency to get updates on their case.
In addition, the following changes will be made to the NamUs system on September 30, 2013:
The case tracking feature in NamUs will cap user tracking at a maximum of 50 cases.
NOTE: Registered public users currently tracking more than 50 cases have until September 30, 2013 to reduce their case tracking log to 50. After that date, the system will automatically reduce user case tracking.
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact your NamUs Regional System Administrator or the NamUs toll-free number at 1-855-626-7600. You may also contact the general NamUs MP email address at questions@findthemissing.org or the general NamUs UP email address at questions@identifyus.org.
This is obviously not an "upgrade" or "enhancement" but a downgrade for most public users. Information on dentals, fingerprints, and DNA sometimes needs to be restricted for security reasons. Nevertheless, the utility of those sections is now close to zero for amateurs looking for possible matches. It's not uncommon for MP/UID possible matches to have dentals or DNA listed as entered in NamUs yet not be caught by (or not be flagged for) investigators. I plan to mostly (but judiciously) ignore the dentals/DNA/prints sections from now on, especially for possible matches that have been in NamUs for longer than several months.
The reductions to case tracking for public users are more understandable given the notification burden on the system. Still unfortunate since the case tracking feature was the single main feature many public users used.