Frequently Asked Questions
The Special Needs Registry is an initiative of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Its purpose is to compile and maintain a list of individuals who have “special needs” due to mental or neurological disabilities and who may reside in Bay County, Florida. Residents are invited to proactively provide information about a loved one with special needs of any age, who may require special assistance in
To register for the Special Needs Registry, complete the Special Needs Registry Form below and submit it to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. Please include a recent photograph of registrant. Parents and caregivers may enroll a person of any age with any type of medical condition or disability, including but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer’s or Dementia, Bipolar Disorder and Down Syndrome. Adults with special needs may also enroll themselves.
When Law Enforcement has contact with the registrant on this form, BAYROC, our Real-Time Operations center, can provide Law Enforcement with the information needed to successfully interact and communicate with your loved one, as well as provide us with your contact information.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office personnel who require this information in the performance of their duties will have access to the information. There are strict regulations with respect to accessing and disseminating information. The sharing of this information with other police agencies during an emergency can be helpful when a person is registered in Bay County but, wanders off into another jurisdiction.
The registry has been developed with the intent to serve all members (adult or juvenile) of our community or people who frequent our community who have a “special need” and want to register with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
You may, however, only information that has a significant impact on policing response will be necessary. Some examples would include a change in address, school, or emergency contact. You do not need to report a change in hair cut or color, for example, as the police are familiar with the changes that can be made and are more likely to notice height, weight and eye color. Changes can be made on a new registry form.
It is preferable that you let Law Enforcement know that the individual is already registered. In doing so, the information will be immediately disseminated to the police vehicles without having to ask the parents/guardians during a high stress situation.
If the individual goes missing and is reported by the parent/guardian, information about his/her physical appearance, the most likely places where he/she would go to, as well as triggers,stimulants, and de-escalation techniques will be sent to every police officer in the area to look for the missing person. If the individual has not been reported and is incapable of effectively communicating his/her name to an officer, a computer check of the neighborhood, coupled with the physical appearance, and may allow us to identify the individual more quickly. This will then allow us to use the contact information to connect with the parents/guardians.