"Reflections on The Independent Civilian Review into Missing Person Investigations" ft. Dr. Laura Huey

Episode 6 of the Missing Persons Research Hub podcast features Cpl. Jennifer Sparkes. "Systemic issues associated to risk assessment, unnecessary barriers, poor communication, lack of consultation, failure to triage...” the list of criticisms of police management of missing person investigations is long and familiar. Cpl. Jennifer Sparkes of the RCMP joins us to share how her District mitigates these concerns and directly accounts for each and every missing person investigation in their geographic region using a consistent and coordinated approach to oversight. Using specialized resources to support and connect police, partners, and families across multiple jurisdictions, this regional model provides an easily accessible communication and information hub for all aspects of missing person investigations. By assessing each case through a consistent lens and advancing investigations in a coordinated fashion, this approach provides complete accountability through readily available, directly-sourced information, some of which challenges widely-held assumptions and beliefs. The result is an evidence-based foundation for the development of protocols, policies, and best practices, with impacts spanning from effective resolution of cases to efficient utilization of police resources to accurately informing public perception.

Episode 4 of the Missing Persons Research Hub Podcast features Tyler Hooper, the creator of The Missing and Unexplained Podcast. In this episode, Tyler discusses the pros and cons of podcasting in the field of missing persons, highlighting how missing persons and true crime podcasts can both be harmful and helpful. For example, the misinformation and sensationalism often rampant in these types of podcasts has the potential to negatively impact missing person cases. We also talk about how podcasting/podcasters and research/researchers are at a crossroads: can these two distinct but related areas in the field of missing persons work together to collaborate, educate, and bring about greater awareness, and, if so, how?? Tune in to find out.

Episode 3 of the Missing Persons Research Hub Podcast features Justine Collin-Santerre discussing her research on spatial patterns, solvability, and criminality in missing persons cases. Through these topics, Justine outlines her dissertation work, which combines these three critical themes related to missingness. She also talks about her recent presentation at Criminology Consortium, an international Criminology conference, wherein she talked about her research on typologies of missing persons in the news.

Episode 2 of the Missing Persons Research Hub Podcast features Larissa Kowalski discussing her broad, first insights research into older adults and missingness in Canada. Specifically, Larissa provides a detailed discussed of her thesis that employed a mixed-methods research design to develop a typology for older adults who are reported missing in Canada. She highlights some of its key findings and the identified research gaps. Then, Larissa offers a call to action that anyone involved in the field of missing persons will resonate with.

Episode 1 of the Missing Persons Research Hub Podcast features Detective Sin Kim discussing his research on typologies of missing persons cases. Specifically, Sin outlines the existing research on typologies of missing persons in the Canadian context, the potential benefits of typologies from a policing perspective, and an emerging approach to re-thinking missing persons typologies based on Sin's research.