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What To Do
If Your Child Is Missing
- Immediately call your
local law enforcement agency.
When a child is missing, there is no waiting period before a law enforcement
agency can take a report. This is by Federal mandate under the National
Child Search Assistance Act of 1990. (42 USC §§ 5775 and
5780)
Concentrate on remaining calm for the sake of your child.
Ask that an officer be dispatched to your location.
- Look around your home
for clues to your child’s possible whereabouts of destination
of travel.
There could be clues in the home that may lead to the finding of your
child. Do your best not to disturb the usability of the any item/s
that could aid in the locating of your child. Let the experts do the
in depth search for hidden clues.
Try not to disturb anything in the child’s room or permit a
lot of traffic in the room. Protect the clues that may lead to the
finding of your child.
Do look under items and in areas the child might fit or hide. Don’t
forget the yard surrounding your home.
Ask neighbors to search their homes and yards.
Start calling all of your friends as well as your child’s friends
and acquaintances to find out the last time they might have seen or
talked with your child.
Start a grape vine going to publicize the fact that the child is missing.
- Be ready for the police
when they arrive.
Be prepared to provide the following information:
- a detailed description
- a recent photo of the child
- a description of the clothing worn by the child
at the time of abduction
- a description of the abductor
- a description of the vehicle and the direction
of flight
Write down all the descriptive information you can about your child.
This should include all descriptors, names, nicknames,
Note what all you have done up to this point as a activity log to
include times.
List all parent and relative information to include addresses, phone
numbers and current relationship status.
List the names of all friends, their addresses and phone numbers.
If there is a witness/es have the respective name/s available along
with addresses and phone numbers.
- Be Specific When Talking
With the Police.
Give the date time and location that your child was last seen. Be
very specific by using landmarks, street names, buildings or business
signs to ensure there is no question about the location the child
was last seen.
Articulate in great detail as to what you have done to date with looking
for the child and attempts you made to find clues to the child’s
whereabouts. If there is time, provide a list of what you have done,
and the places you searched to the police.
If your child was associated with a vehicle, give the vehicle description
with as much detail as possible. If you don't know the make and model,
look around for a vehicle which is similar similar.
- Be Specific Describing
Your Child.
If you have a child I.D. or DNA kit, retrieve that for the responding
officer. If not, give height, weight, body build, color and length
of hair, color of eyes, birth-marks and disabilities.
Note special markings: scars, braces, eyeglasses, pierced ears, etc.
Describe clothing in which the child was last seen. For each item
give colors, brand names, rips, and patterns. Include accessories:
barrettes, ribbons, earrings, cell phones, beepers, purses, toys,
etc. Closing your eyes often helps to visualize your child.
Provide any medication names the child takes, when it was last taken
and when it is next due.
- Help the police really
know your child as you do.
The police receive many false alarms, so have someone - your pastor,
child's school teacher or principal, or a person in the community
with name recognition who knows your child - call and attest to your
child's integrity.
- Have a copy of the most
recent color photograph of the child available.
Also have a complete physical description ready including a description
of the clothes the child was wearing. If you have them, also provide
the child's fingerprints, hair sample, and blood type to the responding
law enforcement agency.
Do not give away your only photo or your last copy of your last photo
taken. Get a copy made and give that to law enforcement. If time is
of the essence have it scanned at a local copy service business and
put on a disk for law enforcement.
- Law enforcement will
rely on the Information you provide about your child.
They use the information to publicize your child as missing and enter
your child into the National Crime Information Center computer for
accessibility of other law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Make sure you have all important documentation available for investigators,
such as the child's birth certificate, Social Security Card, immunization
records, and any custody/parenting plan documents (for cases that
involve divorce).
- Call the NCMEC toll-free
hot-line.
Report the missing child to the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children (NCMEC) toll-free line at 1-800THE-LOST,
(1-800-843-5678). The National Center can issue e-mail alerts about
your missing child, distribute posters with your child's photo and
information nationwide, and provide support and other resources for
you and your family.
- Register your missing
child with other organizations.
Contact other non-profit
missing child agencies as well as other clearinghouses
in adjacent states. Register your missing child and find out what
other search assistance and support services they can provide.
- Check for your child's
passport.
Ensure your child does not have his or her passport so as to not provide
the ability for the child to be taken out of the country.
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