Our purpose is to do something that matters. We agree to do it together.
We appreciate and celebrate that we can all contribute and make an impact, but it is through collective action that we can find the intersection of justice, peace, and closure for the families of the murdered and missing.
The sad, but true, fact that there are more than 200,000 unsolved cold cases means that more than 200,000 families still need answers. Families deserve answers; victims deserve a voice, and no one should be a statistic. Together we can make a difference. But it is together that we agree to:
Be respectful.
First, DO NO HARM. Do not contact family members, publicly name someone by publishing private or identifying information about them, or engage in conspiracy theories. An environment where people feel uncomfortable, threatened, or exploited is not a productive or creative one.
Be inclusive.
We welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities. A more diverse community ensures representation in our work. We use our platform to elevate the stories of those who are underrepresented in the media and the cold case community. Our focus includes, but is not limited to, members of any sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, culture, social and economic class, educational level, color, sex, age, religion, and mental and physical ability.
Choose your words carefully.
Always remember that this is human-centered work. The focus should be on the victim rather than the perpetrators—first starting by naming the victims instead of referring to their case by their circumstance or a salacious name. It is imperative that cold cases be investigated in the present, and judgment and blame not be placed on the victim. The aim is NOT to cause danger or damage to loved ones or impede progress, but to uncover details that might have gone unnoticed. Be kind to others. Actions and behaviors have consequences for yourself and others—take those consequences into account when posting content and interacting with the community.
Don’t harass.
DO NOT publish private or identifying information about an individual—we work exclusively in publicly available data. Our philosophy is centered on the promotion and sharing of substantiated information. We resolve disagreements and differing views constructively—call someone in, not out.
Learn from each other.
There is strength in diversity of opinion, experiences, and insights. Different people have different perspectives on issues, and that can be valuable for uncovering information, solving problems, or generating new ideas. Collective impact thrives when we turn differences into strengths. We know that we all bring something unique when searching for answers in cold cases; we are successful when we collaborate.
Join us, but know we take our do-no-harm policy and the inclusivity of our community VERY seriously. Content that violates our policies will be removed from the site immediately. In addition, community members who act inappropriately will be removed at Uncovered’s discretion. If you agree, like us, that it is time to do something that matters, raise your hand and tell us who you are.