Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 22A, § 1 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. As used in sections two to eight, inclusive, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

''Central register'', identifying data file of missing children.

''Department'', the department of criminal justice information services.

''Director'', the commissioner of the department of criminal justice information services.

''Law enforcement authority'', any police department in the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions.

''Missing child or children'', any person under the age of eighteen years missing from his normal and ordinary place of residence and whose whereabouts cannot be determined by the person responsible for such child's care.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases, 1989–2006 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Howard, 845 N.E.2d 368 (Mass. 2006).

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Commonwealth v. Howard, 845 N.E.2d 368 (Mass. 2006). “, G. L. c. 22A, § 1; G. L. c. 209A, § 1; G.”

Commonwealth v. Beals, 541 N.E.2d 1011 (Mass. 1989). “, G. L. c. 22A, §§ 1,4 (1988 ed.) (law enforcement officials must “immediately undertake to locate" a child “whose whereabouts cannot be determined by the person responsible for such child’s care”); 42 U.”

Commonwealth v. Geoghan, 14 Mass. L. Rptr. 331 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2002). “, G.L.c. 22A, §1 (defining law enforcement agency as “any police department in the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions”); G.”

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