Direct Access and Answers from Government Officials:
The Family Support team implements DPMO's policy that fully supports approved access to case files. An approved family member or previously designated person may visit DPMO to review their respective missing person's case file and meet with Government officials to resolve uncertainties and illuminate facts in an open and personal manner. This applies to all Korea, Cold, and Vietnam War families. DPMO's policy ensures "Client Parity" for "on-site" case file reviews, clarifies the redaction process, and provides instruction on how to receive a mailed case file. To review your case file or receive a mailed case file please contact your service casualty office .
General Information: An approved family member or previously designated person includes:
Furthermore, the primary next of kin cannot deny an adult member of the family of the unaccounted for person the right to know information concerning the
" Location, Treatment, or Condition " of the unaccounted for person per 50 United States Code section 435 Note.
To obtain access to DPMO case files, the family member or previously designated person, the respective service casualty office , and DPMO must coordinate as follows:
Family Member:
It is the responsibility of the appropriate family member or previously designated person to initiate the file review process. Please make requests for file reviews through your respective service casualty office.
Service Casualty Office:
The service casualty offices will support requests by family members or the previously designated persons and shall provide liaison between the requestor and DPMO.
DPMO:
The Family Support team will process file review requests received from a service casualty office within 30 working days of receipt and ensure only approved personnel attain access to the case file review.
Administrative Matters:
DPMO will withhold from case files only that information that is restricted from release by law such as sensitive intelligence sources, methods, and privacy concerns. This redaction does not materially affect the content as it pertains to the case.
Miscellaneous:
Upon request, DPMO will mail a copy of the declassified case files to persons so entitled through the respective service casualty office . Thus, DPMO can provide a missing person's entire case file to families and previously designated persons without them having to travel to Washington, DC to review the same file in person. The DPMO mailed declassified file is identical to the redacted DPMO case file prepared for an on-site file review.
For more detailed information view DPMO Policy - Family Access to DPMO Case Files.
