Missing Child
Early Response System

While statistically rare, criminal abduction puts a child’s life in extreme danger. Many victims of criminal abduction lose their lives – usually within a mere three (3) hours of being kidnapped. Therefore it is essential to determine as quickly as possible whether or not a child has been abducted. Since most missing kids are runaways who return home within three days, police often assume that even very young missing children are runaways. Sometimes it is up to parents to convince the authorities otherwise.

If Your Child is Missing:

1. Try not to panic, but act swiftly.
2. Search your home (under beds, in closets) and its immediate area thoroughly, including your child’s favorite hangouts.
3. Call neighbors, relatives, your child’s friends – anyone who may have seen him/her or have an idea where they may be.
4. Ask yourself the following questions:
   • Has the child ever run away from home (or threatened to)?
   • Are any of the child’s clothes missing?
   • Is money missing? (yours or the child’s)
   • Are any of the child’s favorite possessions (diary, doll, photos, music) missing?
   • Is the child older than age 10?
   • Has the child been recently depressed, withdrawn, or moody?
   • Are there unhappy circumstances at home? (Pending/recent divorce, physical violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse, etc.)
   • Has the child lost enthusiasm for activities once considered important?
   • Have the child’s grades dropped recently?
   • Has the child suddenly withdrawn from favorite family members or friends?
   • Has the child acquired new friends of whom you disapprove?
   • Does the child have a history of substance use/abuse?
5. If the answer to most of these questions is "No":
   • CALL THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY.
   • Review the above criteria with them.
   • Explain why you feel your child is not a runaway.
   • Be prepared to give:
     
     • Recent photograph
     • Physical description (including special identifying marks and clothing when last seen)
     • Fingerprints, DNA, and dental records
     • Where child was last seen/was going/was coming from
       
       Be thorough, but brief.
6. Don’t rely entirely upon the police – time is of the essence!
   • Mobilize relatives, neighbors, your child’s friends and their families, clergy, etc.
   • Ask everyone to immediately call their VIP community contacts (i.e. police chief, principal, district attorney, district representative, mayor)
   • Go door-to-door (there is nearly always somebody who has seen something)
7. Request police activate AMBER ALERT for your child. Follow up by notifying the media.
   • Television (Assignment Editor/Producer)
   • Radio Stations (Station Manager)
   • Newspaper (City Desk Editor)
   Provide the media with all relevant information (physical description, approximate time and location where child was last seen) and urge immediate action!
8. Post someone at the home phone.
   • Keep the line open at all times (if needed, contact phone company for emergency call-waiting).
   • Keep incoming calls brief.
9. Stress the 3-hour life expectancy of the criminally abducted child.
   • Urge police and media cooperation.
   • Share any new information immediately with police.

Consider sharing this criteria with your local police department. Many do not have this type of protocol in place.

NOTE: The above action should be taken only when your child is in danger. For the sake of all involved, don’t "cry wolf" needlessly.