§49-9-2 Definitions. - West Virginia Statutes

§49-9-2. Definitions.

As used in this article:

(a) "Child" means an individual under the age of eighteen years who is not emancipated;

(b) "Clearinghouse" means the West Virginia missing children information clearinghouse;

(c) "Custodian" means a parent, guardian, custodian or other person who exercises legal physical control, care or custody of a child;

(d) "Missing child" means a child whose whereabouts are unknown to the child's custodian and the circumstances of whose absence indicate that:

(1) The child did not leave the care and control of the custodian voluntarily and the taking of the child was not authorized by law; or

(2) The child voluntarily left the care and control of his or her custodian without the custodian's consent and without intent to return;

(e) "Missing child report" means information that is:

(1) Given to a law-enforcement agency on a form used for sending information to the national crime information center; and

(2) About a child whose whereabouts are unknown to the reporter and who is alleged in the form submitted by the reporter to be missing;

(f) "Possible match" means the similarities between anunidentified body of a child and a missing child that would lead one to believe they are the same child;

(g) "Reporter" means the person who reports a missing child; and

(h) "State agency" means an agency of the state, political subdivision of the state or public postsecondary educational institution.