The NCIC maintains information on stolen and recovered property as well as wanted and missing persons for how many states and territories?

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a vital resource managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that provides criminal justice agencies with essential information on stolen and recovered property, as well as data on wanted and missing persons. The NCIC is designed to serve all U.S. states, territories, and certain federal agencies.

The correct answer indicates that the NCIC maintains information relevant to all 50 states, as well as additional territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. This comprehensive coverage ensures that law enforcement agencies across the nation can access important data that helps them effectively combat crime and locate missing individuals.

While other options specify numbers like 48, 52, or 55, they do not accurately reflect the full scope of the NCIC's reach, which is inclusive of all 50 states and relevant territories. This full inclusion enhances law enforcement cooperation and resource sharing across different jurisdictions.