National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

What National Missing and Unidentified Persons System does

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a U.S. federal government program, established in 2007 and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) within the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice. Program operations are managed under contract by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, NC, with the program administered from Washington, DC. NamUs functions as the only national centralized repository and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases in the United States, serving three primary user groups: law enforcement agencies, medical examiner and coroner offices, and families of missing persons, with additional focus on tribal law enforcement and missing indigenous persons cases.

The core platform is the NamUs 2.0 Database Application — a secure, online centralized clearinghouse providing case management, advanced searching, and automatic matching tools across missing persons, unidentified decedents, and unclaimed persons records. Supporting technology includes integration with the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system via Cogent AFIS (CAFIS), the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for familial DNA matching, the FBI Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP), and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data. Complementary forensic service modules cover forensic odontology, fingerprint examination, DNA analysis (nuclear STR/Y-STR and mitochondrial), forensic anthropology, analytical/investigative support including a Cold Case Advisory Team, and facial comparison services delivered via a partnership with NCIS. Account access is governed by the DIAMD identity and access management system.

NamUs does not operate a commercial revenue model. All services — database access, forensic analyses, family DNA collection kits, training, and investigative support — are provided free of charge to users. Funding flows from NIJ, and the program distributes its capabilities through a direct-to-government model with three Regional Program Specialist territories (West, Central, East) covering all U.S. states, territories, and tribal jurisdictions. Distribution is supported by training events, Missing Person Day events, and dedicated tribal outreach. As of June 2026, the database contained over 15,000 active unidentified decedent cases, and the program has facilitated more than 250 fingerprint identifications through its FBI collaboration.

Name

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

Legal name

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

Website

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NamUs is a federally funded U.S. DOJ program providing a free, centralized database and forensic services to help law enforcement, medical examiners, and families resolve missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Public Safety / Missing Persons Database Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Public Administration (92)

akta.pro primary industry

Identity Verification & Proofing (IDV, KYC, Biometrics) (HDADAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fraud Prevention & Identity Verification (IDV/KYC) (BPAMAEAI)

Keywords

• Missing persons database
• Forensic identification services
• Law enforcement technology
• Unidentified remains matching
• Cold case investigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: NamUs is funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which is part of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. All NamUs resources are provided at no cost to users through this government funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NamUs operates the national centralized NamUs 2.0 Database, a secure online clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person case information, paired with free forensic services (DNA analysis, fingerprint examination, forensic anthropology, and forensic odontology) and investigative support. The system enables cross-jurisdictional matching of missing persons with unidentified decedents through integration with FBI systems (NGI, CODIS, ViCAP) and is used by law enforcement agencies, medical examiner/coroner offices, and families of missing persons at no cost.

Product overview

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) operates as a centralized platform offering a unified database and multiple forensic service modules. The core NamUs Database serves as the national clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases, while supporting modules include forensic odontology, fingerprint examination (via Cogent AFIS/CAFIS), DNA analysis (nuclear and mitochondrial), forensic anthropology, analytical division services, and investigative support. Additional services include facial comparison capabilities through a partnership with NCIS, and the DIAMD system manages user authentication and access. All resources and services are provided free of charge to assist law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and families in resolving missing persons cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NamUs Database A secure, centralized online platform that serves as a national clearinghouse for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person case information, providing case management, advanced searching, and automatic matching tools to help resolve cases across the United States. Used by law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and families of missing persons.
• DNA Analysis Services DNA analysis services including nuclear DNA profiling (STR and Y-STR) and mitochondrial DNA testing. Family DNA collection kits are provided at no cost and profiles are uploaded to CODIS for matching against unidentified persons.
• Fingerprint Examination Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 250 fingerprint matches identified through FBI/NamUs collaboration
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2024NamUs partnered with NCIS to provide facial comparison services, enhancing the ability to identify missing persons and unidentified decedents through advanced biometric matching.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Since 2017, NamUs has collaborated with the FBI Latent Print Support Unit to search all fingerprints of unidentified decedents submitted to NamUs through NGI (Next Generation Identification). This partnership has resulted in over 250 fingerprint hits, with the oldest resolved case dating back to 1975.
• FBI Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationFamily DNA profiles can be searched against CODIS profiles of unidentified persons at the National DNA Index System (NDIS) level, enabling identification of missing persons through familial DNA matching. DNA profiles for family members cannot be searched against arrestee or convicted offender profiles.
• National Crime Information Center (NCIC)coreTechnology or IntegrationNamUs integrates with NCIC data, which contains active missing person cases. Between 2021 and 2025, an average of 532,727 missing persons records annually were entered into NCIC, with approximately 90,000 active missing person cases at any given time.
• Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP)supportingTechnology or IntegrationNamUs coordinates with FBI's ViCAP, a nationwide data center designed to collect, collate, and analyze information on crimes of violence including missing person cases, to foster sharing of case information among law enforcement agencies.
• U.S. Department of Justice COPS OfficestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNamUs staff attend COPS Office-sponsored Unresolved Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Case Training and Technical Assistance events to present on NamUs resources to tribal law enforcement.
• Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBJA is part of the Office of Justice Programs that oversees NamUs alongside NIJ, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and other DOJ offices.
• Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNamUs participates in annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultations to present on available services for unsolved missing and unidentified persons cases on tribal lands.
• FBI Missing Person Identification Program (MPIP)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBI Phoenix Missing Person Identification Program partners with NamUs for events like the Kayenta Missing Person Identification Project, providing unified locations where families can file police reports, enter cases into NamUs, and provide DNA samples.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs Murdered and Missing UnitstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with NamUs at events like the Gila River Indian Community Missing Person Identification Project to support families of missing persons.
• RTI InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNamUs is managed through a contract with RTI International, located in Research Triangle Park, NC. RTI provides program management and operational support for the NamUs system.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Federally funded nonprofit that operates a national clearinghouse and resource center for missing and exploited children. Closest functional peer to NamUs—parallel government/quasi-government model serving law enforcement, families, and medicolegal communities for unresolved missing-persons cases.
• National Crime Information Center (FBI): FBI's NCIC is the national crime database that NamUs integrates with for active missing-persons records (averaging 532,727 records annually). Both serve as federal-level information clearinghouses for law enforcement and overlap materially in missing-persons use cases.

Emerging players

• DNA Doe Project: Non-profit that uses investigative genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains (John/Jane Does). Directly comparable mission to NamUs's unidentified-decedent resolution work, but operates as an emerging volunteer-driven organization rather than a federally administered program.

Others

• Bode Cellmark Forensic Services: Provides forensic DNA testing and identification services for law enforcement, including missing-persons and unidentified-remains cases. Operates as a contracted forensic-services provider in a space where NamUs delivers comparable free services via NIJ funding.
• Parabon NanoLabs: Provides DNA phenotyping, genetic genealogy, and forensic DNA services to law enforcement, including for unidentified remains and cold cases. A complementary service provider that agencies increasingly use alongside NamUs for case resolution.
• Identifinders International: Genetic-genealogy firm specializing in forensic identification for law enforcement, including for unidentified persons and cold cases. Provides a comparable investigative capability that supplements NamUs's forensic services.
• FamilyTreeDNA (Gene by Gene): Genetic-genealogy database frequently used by law enforcement and investigators (including via investigative genetic-genealogy firms) to identify unidentified remains and missing persons. Functions as an enabling data layer alongside NamUs's own CODIS-integrated family DNA workflows.

Broad incumbents

• INTERPOL Yellow Notices: INTERPOL issues global Yellow Notices for missing persons, providing the international equivalent of NamUs's domestic missing-persons repository. Comparable mission and clearinghouse model, but at a broader international scope and as part of INTERPOL's wider portfolio of notices and databases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/namusinfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/NamUsInformation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/namusinfo
• Pinterestpinterest.com/pin/create/button?url=https%3A//namus.nij.ojp.gov/&media=https%3A//namus.nij.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh336/files/images/2021-03/OGDark.png&description=Home

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Missing and Unidentified Persons System