A number of organizations and agencies in both the public and private sector work with parents whose children are missing. These agencies can provide information, assistance with photo and flier production and distribution, referral services, and investigative resources to you, your family, and law enforcement.
Private Resources
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC)
NCMEC serves a variety of functions:
- Distribution of pictures and posters of missing children worldwide.
- Provision of information and technical assistance to citizens.
- Provision of training, technical assistance, and technical support to state missing children’s clearinghouses and to state and local law enforcement agencies.
You can call NCMEC to get copies of its intake and release forms mailed or sent to you via fax and to get information on how you can have a color picture of your child posted on NCMEC’s Web site, distributed to NCMEC’s photo partners, and printed on fliers for you to distribute.
NCMEC also manages and coordinates Project ALERT ( America ’s Law Enforcement Retiree Team) and Team Adam, free consultation services on missing children cases for law enforcement agencies.
NCMEC’s Family Advocacy Division also supports Team H.O.P.E., a parent-to-parent mentoring service. Team H.O.P.E. is a national support network that matches left-behind parents with trained parent volunteer mentors who have experienced an abduction in their own families.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314–3175
800–THE–LOST® (800–843–5678) (Hotline for
the United States, Canada, and Mexico ),
800–826–7653 (TTY), or 703–235–3900
703–235–2200 (Fax)
Internet: www.missingkids.com
CyberTipline: www.cybertipline.com
Branch Offices
California : 714–508–0150
Florida : 561–848–1900
Kansas City (MO): 816–756–5422
New York : 585–242–0900
South Carolina : 803–254–2326
Team H.O.P.E.
866–305–HOPE
Internet: www.teamhope.org
or contact NCMEC at 800–843–5678
Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organizations, Inc. (AMECO)
AMECO is a national association of missing and exploited children’s organizations that work together to serve and protect missing children and their families. AMECO seeks to improve both the capabilities of nonprofit missing children’s organizations and the overall quality of services provided through certification of its member organizations. AMECO develops standards for missing children’s organizations, provides outreach and assistance to local nonprofit organizations, and establishes guidelines for nonprofit agencies that serve missing children and their families.
You can contact AMECO to find out the names of nonprofit missing children’s organizations—both in your community and throughout the country—that can provide assistance and support to you and your family.
Association of Missing and Exploited Children’s Organizations, Inc.
Internet: www.amecoinc.org
Other Nonprofit Organizations
A number of private nonprofit organizations provide services to families whose children have been abducted. Before you contact such an organization, however, ask NCMEC or AMECO to tell you which organizations meet their requirements for certification or membership. You might also want to talk with your law enforcement contact and with the parents of other missing children. Be wary of organizations that promise they can find your missing child, that request payment for these services, or that are unknown in this field.
Victim’s Advocates
Ask your law enforcement contact to arrange to have a victim’s advocate come to your home to explain your rights and to explore the counseling, treatment, and related services available to you. Victim’s advocates are usually associated with the offices of the sheriff, the state prosecutor, or the district attorney. If you have access to the Internet, you can find a list of victim advocacy and compensation groups at the Office for Victims of Crime Web site (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc). Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies (see Recommended Readings) also contains a list of victim’s advocate services and organizations.
Parent Survivors
Talking with parents who have survived a similar ordeal can help you regain your sanity and increase your effectiveness in the search for your child, for only they can truly understand your pain and anguish. The parents who helped to write this Guide are willing to talk to you. To contact any of the parent authors, call the Child Protection Division at the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (202–616–3637). Other victim help groups are listed in Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies (see Recommended Readings).
In addition, Team H.O.P.E. can connect trained parent volunteers who can provide advice, assistance, and encouragement to other parent victims. Parent survivors and volunteers can also be reached through Team H.O.P.E. at 866–305–HOPE.
Local Businesses
Local businesses in your community can provide a number of goods and services that will be needed in the search for your child. In addition, with permission you can post your child’s picture in store windows, on doors, and on the backs of trucks. See chapter 5 (Volunteers) for a list of the types of organizations and businesses that may be willing to help.
Government Resources
Federal Agencies
Many federal agencies provide technical support and services to law enforcement and other public and private agencies to aid in the search and recovery of a missing child. A comprehensive list of these services is available in Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies (see Recommended Readings). The agencies listed below, which have been referenced throughout this Guide, provide support and/or investigative services to missing and exploited children and their families.
Child Protection Division
The Child Protection Division provides support to several missing and exploited children‘s organizations, including NCMEC, AMECO, and Team H.O.P.E.; provides technical assistance and training to law enforcement to improve their investigation of missing and exploited children cases; produces reports to improve services to missing and exploited children and their families; and conducts research related to missing and exploited children. For information about any of these activities or the organizations listed above, call the Child Protection Division at the phone number listed below.
Child Protection Division
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202–616–3637
202–307–2819 (Fax)
Internet: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ojjdp
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
OVC makes awards each year to state crime victim compensation and assistance programs to supplement state funding for victim services. Crime victim compensation is the direct payment to a crime victim or to his or her family to help cover crime-related expenses, such as medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages, or funeral services. Every state administers a crime victim compensation program, and most programs have similar eligibility requirements and offer a comparable range of benefits.
Crime victim assistance programs provide direct services, such as crisis intervention, counseling, emergency transportation to court, temporary housing, and criminal justice support and advocacy. For information about these programs, contact your local crime victim compensation program or crime victim assistance program. Federal Resources on Missing and Exploited Children: A Directory for Law Enforcement and Other Public and Private Agencies (see Recommended Readings) contains a listing of all state offices.
Office for Victims of Crime
Office of Justice Programs
U.S. Department of Justice
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202–307–5983
202–514–6383 (Fax)
Internet: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Headquarters
Special Investigations and Initiatives Unit
Crimes Against Children Unit
935 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Washington, DC 20535–0001
202–324–3666
202–324–2731 (Fax)
(See the front of your local telephone book for the number of your local FBI Field Office.)
The Crimes Against Children Unit works closely with FBI Field Offices and other FBI components to coordinate operational support to more effectively address crimes against children. The FBI Field Offices house Crimes Against Children Coordinators, who use all available investigative, tactical, forensic, informational, and behavioral science resources in the investigation of crimes against children.
Missing Children’s Clearinghouses1
Missing children’s clearinghouses are state government agencies connected with law enforcement. Because the types of services available in each state vary substantially, you need to call your state clearinghouse to find out both what services are available to help you in your search and whether the clearinghouse will distribute photographs of your missing child. Then you can call other state clearinghouses in your region and throughout the nation to compare services and take advantage of those not available to you in-state. Keep a list of what you learn about each clearinghouse in a spiral notebook for later use.
Alabama
Alabama Bureau of Investigation
Missing and Exploited Children
P.O. Box 1511
Montgomery, AL 36102–1511
800–228–7688
334–353–2563 (Fax)
Internet: www.dps.state.al.us/abi
ORI: ALAST0047
Alaska
Alaska State Troopers
Missing Persons Clearinghouse
5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
800–478–9333 or 907–269–5497
907–338–7243 (Fax)
ORI: AKAST0100
Arizona
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Criminal Investigations Research Unit
P.O. Box 6638
Phoenix, AZ 85005
602–223–2158
602–223–2911 (Fax)
ORI: AZ0079925
Arkansas
Arkansas Office of the Attorney General
Missing Children Services Program
323 Center Street, Suite 1100
Little Rock, AR 72201
800–448–3014 (in-state only) or 501–682–1020
501–682–6704 (Fax)
ORI: AR060035A
California
California Department of Justice
Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit
P.O. Box 903387
Sacramento, CA 94203–3870
800–222–3463 (in-state only) or 916–227–3290
916–227–3270 (Fax)
Internet: www.caag.state.ca.us/missing/index.htm
ORI: CA0349454
Colorado
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Missing Person/Children Unit
710 Kipling Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80215
303–239–4251
303–239–5788 (Fax)
ORI: COCBI0009
Connecticut
Connecticut State Police
Missing Persons
P.O. Box 2794
Middletown, CT 06457 –9294
800–367–5678 (in-state only), 860–685–8190 (emergency messaging), or 860–685–8260
860–685–8346 (Fax)
ORI: CTCSP2900
Delaware
Delaware State Police
State Bureau of Identification
1407 North DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19903
302–739–5883
302–739–5888 (Fax)
ORI: DEDSP0001
District of Columbia
D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
Missing Persons/Youth Division
1700 Rhode Island Avenue NE.
Washington, DC 20018
202–576–6768
202–576–6561 (Fax)
ORI: DCMPD0000
Florida
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 1489
Tallahassee, FL 32302
888–356–4774 or 850–410–8585
850–410–8599 (Fax)
E-Mail: 74431.134@compuserve.com
Internet: www.fdle.state.fl.us
Georgia
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Intelligence Unit
P.O. Box 370808
Decatur, GA 30037
800–282–6564 or 404–244–2554
404–244–2798 (Fax)
ORI: GAGBI0050
Hawaii
Hawaii State Clearinghouse on Missing Children
Department of the Attorney General
235 South Beretania Street, Suite 206
Honolulu, HI 96813
808–586–1449
808–753–9797 (Hotline)
808–586–1424 (Fax)
Internet: aloha.hgea.org/hsc/index.htm
Idaho
Idaho Bureau of Criminal Identification
Missing Persons Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 700
Meridian, ID 83680–0700
888–777–3922 or 208–884–7154
208–884–7193 (Fax)
Internet: www.isp.state.id.us/identification/missing/index.html
ORI: ID001015Y
Illinois
Illinois State Police
500 Iles Park Place, Suite 104
Springfield, IL 62703–2982
800–843–5763 or 217–785–4341
217–785–6793 (Fax)
Internet: www.isp.state.il.us
ORI: IL0849800
Indiana
Indiana State Police
Indiana Missing Children Clearinghouse
Third Floor North
100 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204–2259
800–831–8953 or 317–232–8310
317–233–3057 (Fax)
Internet: www.in.gov/isp/safetyinfo/mcc/
ORI: INISP0012
Iowa
Missing Person Information Clearinghouse
Division of Criminal Investigations
Wallace State Office Building
East 9th and Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
800–346–5507 or 515–281–7958
515–242–6297 (Fax)
Internet: www.state.ia.us/missing
Kansas
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
Missing Persons Clearinghouse
1620 SW. Tyler Street
Topeka, KS 66612 –1837
800–572–7463 or 785–296–8200
785–296–6781 (Fax)
ORI: KSKBI0000
Kentucky
Kentucky State Police
1240 Airport Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
800–222–5555 (in-state only), 502–227–8799
502–564–4931 (Fax)
Internet: www.kentuckystatepolice.org/missing.htm
ORI: KYSKP0022
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Social Services
Louisiana Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children
Office of Community Services
P.O. Box 3318
Baton Rouge, LA 70812
225–342–8631
225–342–9087 (Fax)
Maine
Maine State Police
Missing Children Clearinghouse
State House Station 52
18 Meadow Road
Augusta, ME 04333–0052
207–532–5404
207–532–5455 (Fax)
ORI: MEMSP0000
Maryland
Maryland Center for Missing Children
Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit
7155 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite C
Columbia, MD 21046
800–637–5437 or 410–290–1620
410–290–1831 (Fax)
ORI: MDMSP9500
Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Police
Missing Persons Unit
470 Worchester Road
Framingham, MA 01702
800–622–5999 (in-state only) or 508–820–2129
508–820–2128 (Fax)
ORI: MAMSP0070
Michigan
Michigan State Police
Prevention Services Unit
714 South Harrison Road
Lansing, MI 48823
517–333–4006
517–336–6100 (24-hour emergency line)
517–333–4115 (Fax)
Minnesota
Minnesota State Clearinghouse
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
1430 Maryland Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106
651–793–1107
651–793–1101 (Fax)
Mississippi
Mississippi Highway Patrol
3891 Highway 486 West
Jackson, MS 39208
601–933–2657
601–933–2677 (Fax)
Missouri
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Division of Drug and Crime Control
P.O. Box 568
Jefferson City, MO 65102
800–877–3452 or 573–526–6178
573–526–5577 (Fax)
ORI: MOMHP0014
ORI: MOMHP0007
Montana
Montana Department of Justice
Missing/Unidentified Persons
P.O. Box 201402
303 North Roberts Street, Room 374
Helena, MT 59620–1417
406–444–2800
406–444–4453 (Fax)
ORI: MT025045Y
Nebraska
Nebraska State Patrol
Criminal Records and Identification Division
P.O. Box 94907
Lincoln, NE 68509
402–471–4545/479–4918
402–479–4054 (Fax)
Nevada
Nevada Office of the Attorney General
Nevada Missing Children Clearinghouse
555 East Washington Avenue, Suite 3900
Las Vegas, NV 89101–6208
800–992–0900 (in-state only) or 702–486–3539
702–486–3768 (Fax)
Internet: ag.state.nv.us/divisions/missingchildren/nevadamissingchildren.htm
ORI: NV018025A
New Hampshire
New Hampshire State Police
Investigative Services Bureau
Major Crimes Unit
91 Airport Road
Concord, NH 03301
800–852–3411 (in-state only) or 603–271–2663
603–271–2520 (Fax)
ORI: NHNSP0800
New Jersey
New Jersey State Police
Unidentified Persons Unit
P.O. Box 7068
West Trenton, NJ 08628
800–709–7090 or 609–882–2000
609–882–2719 (Fax)
ORI: NJNSP0032
New Mexico
New Mexico Department of Public Safety
ATTN: Law Enforcement Records
P.O. Box 1628
Santa Fe, NM 87504–1628
505–827–9191
505–827–3388 (Fax)
New York
New York Division of Criminal Justice Service
Missing and Exploited Children
4 Tower Place
Albany, NY 12203
800–346–3543 or 518–457–6326
518–457–6965 (Fax)
Internet: http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/missing/index.htm
ORI: NY001025Y
North Carolina
North Carolina Center for Missing Persons
4706 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699–4706
800–522–5437 (in-state only) or 919–733–3914
919–715–1682 (Fax)
ORI: NCNHP0000
North Dakota
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation
P.O. Box 1054
Bismarck, ND 58502–1052
701–328–5500
701–328–5510 (Fax)
ORI: NDRCD0000
Ohio
Missing Children Clearinghouse
Attorney General’s Office
Crime Victims Services Section
65 East State Street, Fifth Floor
Columbus, OH 43215–4231
800–325–5604 or 614–466–5610
614–728–9536 (Fax)
Internet: www.mcc.ag.state.oh.us
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Intelligence Office
6600 North Harvey
Oklahoma City, OK 73136
405–879–2645
405–879–2967 (Fax)
ORI: OKOBI0000
Oregon
Oregon State Police
Missing Children Clearinghouse
400 Public Service Building
Salem, OR 97310
800–282–7155 (in-state only) or 503–378–3720
503–363–5475 (Fax)
Internet: www.osp.state.or.us
ORI: OROSP0003 OROSP0004
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State Police
Bureau of Criminal Investigation
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717–783–0960
717–705–2306 (Fax)
ORI: PAPSP0012
Rhode Island
Rhode Island State Police
Missing and Exploited Children Unit
311 Danielson Pike
North Scituate, RI 02857
401–444–1125
401–444–1133 (Fax)
ORI: RIRSP0001
South Carolina
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
Missing Person Information Center
P.O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221–1398
800–322–4453 or 803–737–9000
803–896–7595 (Fax)
ORI: SCLED00M0
South Dakota
South Dakota Attorney General’s Office
Division of Criminal Investigation
East Highway 34
c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
605–773–3331
605–773–4629 (Fax)
ORI: SDDCI0000
Tennessee
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Criminal Intelligence Unit
901 R.S. Gass Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37206
615–744–4000
615–744–4513 (Fax)
ORI: TNTBI0000
Texas
Texas Department of Public Safety
Special Crimes Services
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773–0422
800–346–3243 (in-state only) or 512–424–5074
512–424–2885 (Fax)
Internet: www.txdps.state.tx.us/mpch
ORI: TXDPS4300
Utah
Utah Department of Public Safety
Bureau of Criminal Identification
P.O. Box 148280
Salt Lake City, UT 84114–8280
888–770–6477 or 801–965–4500
801–965–4749 (Fax)
Vermont
Vermont State Police
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671
802–241–5352
802–241–5349 (Fax)
Virginia
Virginia State Police Department
Missing Children’s Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 27472
Richmond, VA 23261
800–822–4453 (in-state only) or 804–674–2026
804–674–2105 (Fax)
ORI: VAVSP0000
Washington
Washington State Patrol
Missing Children Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 2347
Olympia, WA 98507–2347
800–543–5678
360–644–2156 (Fax)
ORI: WAWSP00L1
West Virginia
West Virginia State Police
Missing Children Clearinghouse
725 Jefferson Road
South Charleston, WV 25309–1698
800–352–0927 (in-state only) or 304–558–1467
304–558–1470 (Fax)
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Division of Criminal Investigation
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53701–2718
800–THE–HOPE (800–843–4673) (in-state only) or 608–266–1671
608–267–2777 (Fax)
ORI: WI013015Y
Wyoming
Wyoming Office of the Attorney General
Division of Criminal Investigation
316 West 22d
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307–777–7537
307–777–8900 (Fax)
ORI: WY0110400
Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Missing Children’s Registry
P.O. Box 8885
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa, Ontario, CN K1G 3MB
877–318–3576 (toll free in North America ) or 613–993–1525
613–993–5430 (Fax)
Internet: www.ourmissingchildren.ca
ORI: ON11074
Puerto Rico
Missing Children Program
Centro Estatal Para Niños Desaparecidos y Victimas de Abuso
P.O. Box 9023899
Old San Juan, PR 00902–3899
787–729–2523
800–995–NINO (limited calling area)
787–722–0809 (Fax)
1 The ORI numbers following many of the clearinghouses in this list are assigned by the National Crime Information
Center to law enforcement agencies for administrative purposes.