With the rising popularity of true crime, many people have turned to “If I Go Missing” binders for some peace of mind. The idea was popularized by true-crime podcast “Crime Junkie” hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat back in 2018. A recent TikTok trend brought the “If I Go Missing” binders back into the spotlight.
The purpose of an “If I Go Missing” binder is for a person to consolidate information on themself in case they become the victim of a crime and, well, go missing.
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When a person goes missing, the “golden hours” for investigation are during the first 24 hours. This is the most significant time because it is when information is most accurate, and the chances of finding the missing person are the greatest. After that, the chances of finding the person alive get slimmer and slimmer by the minute. Thus, having a binder that allows authorities quick access to one’s genetic and personal information can truly be the difference between life or death.
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“If I Go Missing” binders usually contain genetic information such as hair samples and clean fingerprints as well as medical information, daily routine information, frequently visited locations, financial records, and much more. Compiling all their information and making it accessible to the authorities in case they go missing is true crime listeners’ way of feeling like they have some control over the scary world that they live in. Many people turn to these binders because of how easily they can be put together. “If I Go Missing” Binder templates are easily accessible online. Crime Junkies offers a free printable guidebook on their website. You can find these binders in various colors, styles, and different languages on websites like Etsy.
These binders are very popular among women and people of marginalized backgrounds as they are often the victims of missing persons cases. People of minority backgrounds feel that having an “If I Go Missing” binder is practical because these groups go missing at a statistically disproportionate rate. According to data from the FBI, Black missing persons cases are less likely to be solved by the authorities than those concerning any other demographic. By being able to provide all the necessary information to the police directly, people of color feel that this may improve their chances of being found should anything happen to them.
Although “If I Go Missing” binders sound like something that everyone should have in the event that they go missing, many people have called the idea absurd. Critics say that the people who are making these binders are too obsessed with true crime. With the overall percentage of missing people who are never found being close to 1%, they feel that someone stealing the information the binder contains would be a more likely possibility than it being used for its original purpose.
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Many have also stated that true crime lovers only make these binders because they like the idea of inserting themselves into the cases that they enjoy listening to. True crime is meant to bring awareness to victims of crimes, but there has also been an increasing romanticization of crime and killers because of social media’s portrayal of criminals. Some argue that people make “If I Go Missing” binders to fulfill their sick fantasy of becoming a victim of a crime and being talked about in the very podcasts they listen to.
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Critics argue that people making “If I Go Missing” binders are just glamorizing crime. Desensitization is also very common in people who frequently listen to true crime podcasts. At some point, each case just becomes another source of entertainment and you forget that behind every story, there is a very real victim and families whose lives have been turned upside down because of these crimes. “If I Go Missing” binders is just an extension of the entertainment that people get from true crime. Kind of like playing a game of Cluedo (Clue).
The internet is divided on “If I Go Missing” binders. Are they more beneficial or more harmful? What are the chances that these binders will one day be of use? Will these binders really help in police investigations?
Now, the real question: Would you make an “If I Go Missing” folder?