6 | A framework for understanding missing children

Endangered missing children

An endangered missing child is someone younger than age 18 who is believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment, weather conditions, because they are in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or facing other factor(s) that could cause possible harm or injury. An EMA is a tool available to law enforcement agencies investigating the suspicious disappearance of at-risk missing children or other endangered persons. EMAs provide immediate information to the public to aid in swift recovery.

Family abduction

A family abduction occurs when a child is taken, wrongfully retained, or concealed by a parent or other family member depriving another individual of their custody or visitation rights. Family abductions are no less urgent, and may have the same potential for danger as stranger abductions or kidnappings. In fact, according to NCMEC, “Decades of research across multiple fields have illustrated the serious and harmful effects that family abductions can have on child victims and their families.” Additional resources pertaining to family abductions are available in chapter 7.

Keep the following in mind when talking to law enforcement about a known or suspected family abduction:

• Be prepared to show law enforcement any legal documentation that you have about a potential abductor, including custody paperwork (current, active, enforceable orders with a judge’s signature), divorce papers, co-parenting plans, and visitation agreements.
• Be forthcoming about family issues or concerns.
• Find more information on family abductions at missingkids.org/theissues/family abduction.
• Seek legal resources pertaining to family abductions at missingkids.org/gethelpnow/support/legalresources.

Nonfamily abduction

A nonfamily abduction occurs when a child is taken by someone known, but not related, to the child, such as a neighbor or online acquaintance – or by someone who is not known to the child. Nonfamily abductions are the rarest type of case, accounting for 1 percent of missing children reported to NCMEC. While the term “nonfamily abduction” may connote children taken by strangers, in fact, these children often know their abductors.

Nonfamily abductions pose significant challenges for law enforcement. Based on a 10-year analysis of data by NCMEC, attempted nonfamily abductions occur more often when a child is going to or from school or school-related activities, and after dinner time. Attempted abductions most often occur on the street while children are playing, walking, or riding bikes. Younger children at risk are more likely to be playing or walking with a parent or an adult, while older children are more likely to be walking alone or with peers. For older children, attempted abductions more often involve a sexual component. For comprehensive information on nonfamily abductions, visit missingkids.org/theissues/nonfamily.

International parental child abduction

International parental child abduction (IPCA) cases present complex legal hurdles that should be met with swift federal response and well-informed law enforcement actions. When a child is wrongfully held in a foreign country, the situation is complicated by language barriers and differing legal systems that tend to favor the abducting parent. These tips will help:

• Because removing a child from your legal care in the U.S. is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1204, immediately call your local FBI field office to request an investigation. Speak with the Crimes Against Children Coordinator, and “persist until they respond,” says Jeffery Morehouse.
• Call NCMEC at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) to request their resources and assistance as you work through the following actions:
  • To potentially stop an abduction in progress, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) directs parents to the State Department Office of Children’s Issues for Prevent Abduction Program enrollment and 24/7 assistance.
  • To open an IPCA case, contact the U.S. Department of State Office of Children’s Issues at 888-407-4747 (U.S. or Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (international), or email [email protected]. You will be assigned to a country officer to coordinate a federal response. Additional information can be found here: How the U.S. State Department Can Help if Your Child is Abducted Overseas.
  • Local law enforcement is required to enter your child’s IPCA case into the NCIC database. If they don’t give this priority, NCMEC can help.
  • Contact nonprofit organizations with IPCA advocacy experience in the country where your child is located. Be cautious of people and entities that approach you offering recovery services or other forms of unverifiable assistance.
  • Attorneys experienced in IPCA cases can help you prepare paperwork, seek and prepare emergency custodial and return orders, and guide you through the process. The following organizations may have directories of attorneys who are able to help:
    • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: aaml.org
    • International Academy of Family Lawyers: iafl.com
    • American Bar Association: americanbar.org
• For additional resources, refer to the IPCA section in chapter 7.

Confronting cultural bias

Crimes against children of color, Tribal/Indigenous youth, and LGBTQ+ youth are often underreported and not seriously investigated. Cultural backgrounds, language differences, and even behavioral differences as gauged by cultural norms can negatively impact a family’s ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with law enforcement. Children at the center of such cases are missing longer and recovered less frequently. One misconception – that such youth make riskier choices (e.g., engaging in sex for money) – prevails, without considering their lack of access to education, healthcare, housing, or good-paying jobs. The problem “is complex, deeply ingrained, and underpinned by institutional racism and bias,” said NCMEC Program Manager Tina Bigdeli, who spoke at AATTAP’s 2022 National AMBER Alert and AMBER Alert in Indian Country Symposium.

“Everyone’s heritage and values are different, so we should be aware of our biases, and how they affect our perceptions of others,” says AMBER Alert in Indian Country Project Coordinator Valerie Bribiescas, a Navajo Nation member and retired detective for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Arizona. “We should just focus on the facts – and know that oppression is a reality for non-dominant groups.”

Whatever your background, if you have trouble communicating effectively with law enforcement, believe your child’s case is not getting the time it deserves, or feel disrespected, ask to speak with an interpreter. You can also seek help from a faith-based organization, a nonprofit focused on diversity and inclusion, an advocate from your law enforcement agency, or call NCMEC at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) for assistance.

The child who runs away or is lured away

In our always-and-everywhere-connected world, in which children and teens often have access to multiple digital devices, an alarming number of children are lured away from home by predators who gain their trust via social media, text messaging, dating apps, and in-game chats. When perpetrators are successful in luring children and teens through deceit and enticement, and make in-person contact, the child may become a victim of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, or gang activity.

Unfortunately, some law enforcement and members of the public regard these children as having made a choice to go, even if they were lured away. Remember: A runaway or lured-away child is a missing child. Always advocate to law enforcement that this is a fact, and your child’s case should be given attention consistent with that of any missing child.

Here are key things to know:

• If your child is older, law enforcement may believe they left willingly, and ultimately will return home. Persist in confirming that law enforcement has taken the full report, and has entered your child into NCIC immediately. This is a law enforcement requirement codified in federal law.
• If your runaway or lured-away child contacts you, assure them that your love is unconditional. Whatever problem that exists can be resolved; you just want them home.
• The National Runaway Safeline provides trusted, compassionate individuals who are available 24/7 to help runaway children and their families. Contact 800-RUNAWAY (800-786-2929) or 1800Runaway.org.
• Each state has a missing child/persons clearinghouse that can provide additional information and assistance; see amberalert.ojp.gov/amber-alert-contacts.
• Follow your child’s social media accounts, which they may use while missing. Share any new information with law enforcement the moment you have it.
• Work under the guidance of law enforcement to talk with the families of your child’s closest friends to encourage them to share what they know about your child’s whereabouts.

Missing from care

Children may run away from social services care or from a noncustodial placement. In doing so, they face serious risks to their lives and may become victims of many endangerments, including, but not limited to, child sex trafficking. Regardless of where a child is missing from, it is important for law enforcement to follow the same reporting requirements as they would for any other missing child. For more information, see
missingkids.org/theissues/missingfromcare.

Children with special needs or who are critically missing/lost

The behaviors and actions of a missing child with specials needs relating to physical, psychological, or cognitive ability can be very challenging. Understanding differences in behaviors of special needs children can help law enforcement plan and carry out their approach for locating your missing child.

If you have a special needs child who goes missing, contact law enforcement immediately and provide information about medications your child needs. Give law enforcement any information relating to your child’s disability that may help them recover your child safely, such as whether your child is drawn to certain locations or strongly affected by certain sounds or behaviors.

Those involved in finding missing children with special needs (including law enforcement, search and rescue, and child advocacy professionals) have benefited from increased training, resources, and information about how to best respond in these cases.

For children with autism, a growing body of information and resources is available to aid in the search. Key points to be considered include:

• Wandering or running away from a safe environment.
• Exhibiting less fear of engaging in high-risk behavior, and often heading toward water or active roads and railways.
• Eluding or hiding from search teams in wooded areas or tightly enclosed spaces.
• Being unable to respond to rescuers.

Tribal or Indigenous missing children

Jurisdictional rights and inadequate resources pose significant obstacles to quickly responding to a child who goes missing on Tribal land. This stems from Tribes’ historically fraught relationship with the federal government, and in turn, issues of Tribal sovereignty. Criminal jurisdiction in Indian country depends on where a crime was committed, who committed it, the type of crime, and if any active memoranda of understanding exist. These issues are further compounded by:

• A lack of available funding for Tribal law enforcement staffing, training, and equipment to effectively investigate missing child cases.
• Expanses of difficult terrain that pose challenges for wireless, broadband, and roadway messaging infrastructure needed for emergency public alerting systems.
• A dearth of available data on crime in Indian country.

Efforts to change this, however, are currently underway thanks to DOJ’s Tribal Justice programs, AMBER Alert in Indian Country, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons initiatives. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the FBI are also working diligently to improve the response for missing persons and crimes against persons in Indian country.