BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jaylen Griffin's body was found just over a week before his 16 birthday. He was reported missing when he was just 12 years old.
While his death is being investigated as a homicide, there are a couple of community organizations that would like to see a law amended when it comes to runaways.
Kareema Morris, founder of Bury The Violence, is leading the charge.
"When Jaylen initially went missing, they publicized him as a runaway in which they (law enforcement) are only required to do the minimum or nothing at their discretion. By New York State law, they only have to they use 40% or less of the resources on runaways. We need to change that, there cannot be another opportunity for a child to end up missing for years, missing for weeks and deceased," Morris said.
She has already reached out to the office of NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes to consider making amendments.
"We've already submitted our requests for them to acknowledge what we need, but that's just the beginning and we're not going to let up until it's done," she said.
Morris said, "We need to change the resources used, the time frame that's used and we need to make them (runaways) a priority. It's sad enough that a missing child isn't a priority, but to have stipulations to use less because of the word 'runaway' is disgusting."
Morris said it is only appropriate that if the law is amended that it is named the Jaylen Griffin Law.
"Sadly, Jaylen lost his life in the beginning of his case. He was listed as a runaway. Therefore, the resources weren't used. Therefore he went off the radar for 3 1/2 years. Within 48 hours, that's too long. It only takes 10 minutes to do something and take a life. So how do we value our children? Because it's just not Jaylen. There are other 12-year-old children out there that are missing. There are other 12-year-olds out there that are labeled as a runaway," Morris said.
Morris added: "Ten states are required (New York state being one of them) to submit missing children on NamUS. There are no requirements to update or maintain the website since submissions are uploaded, unless the family member or an organization is pushing for the submission, opposed to listing runaways as such after 48 hours law enforcement needs to list them as a vulnerable or endangered child. This is the most vulnerable population to become victims of violent crimes."