Every 40 seconds, a child goes missing or is abducted in the United States. Approximately 840,000 children are reported missing each year and the F.B.I. estimates that between 85 and 90 percent of these are children. While most reports of missing or abducted children are resolved within hours, many involve situations where a child goes missing permanently or for an extended period of time. The following are some of the key issues surrounding missing and abducted children.
AMBER Alerts
The AMBER Alert system represents a partnership between broadcasters, cell service providers, state transportation services and local police in which warning messages are quickly and widely disseminated in order to help find abducted children. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created to honor Amber Hagerman, a nine-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered in Arlington, Texas. Over 800 children have been rescued because of AMBER alerts and these messages have proved to be a highly effective tool in finding missing children and protecting children from abduction.
Family Abduction
Family kidnappings make up half of all reported abductions in the United States. Family abduction is typically committed by parents and it involves a significantly higher proportion of female perpetrators when compared to other kidnapping offenses. Children under the age of 6 are most frequently targeted for family abductions and these often occur in the midst of bitter divorce or child custody battles between parents. Family abduction poses unique issues for law enforcement, as the child may be unwilling to leave his or her abductor and other family members may be involved in concealing and aiding the abducting parent.
Non-Family Abduction
Non-family abductions include kidnappings committed by acquaintances and strangers. Acquaintance abductions make up 27 percent of all child abductions and is committed by a disproportionally high number of juvenile offenders. Acquaintance abductions also have the highest number of female and teenage victims and is often associated with other crimes such as sexual and physical assault. Abductions committed by strangers typically occur in outdoor locations. Stranger abduction is most likely to involve a firearm when compared to the other types of abduction and is associated with sexual assault in female victims and robbery in male victims.
Runaway
Children who run away and become homeless is a serious and pervasive issue. One in seven children between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away from home and young people between the ages of 12 and 17 are at a greater risk to become homeless than adults. 75 percent of runaways are female and between 6 and 22 percent of homeless girls are pregnant. Between 20 and 40 percent of young people who run away from home identify as part of the LGBTQ community. Half of all runaways report escaping physical abuse in the home, while 38 percent escape emotional abuse and 17 percent acknowledged being subject to sexual abuse by a family or household member. Children who run away from home face greater risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, poor health and low self-esteem and are more likely to be forced into prostitution, drug sales and other illegal activities.
Physically/Mentally Disabled Children
In many cases, a child who is missing or who has been abducted may have physical or mental disabilities which can make it more difficult to find and return the child. When a child is developmentally disabled, he or she may have difficulty communicating with others about their needs, identity or home address. This can place the child in a greater degree of danger. These children are especially susceptible to being abducted and it may be harder to return them to their parents when they are lost. Physical disabilities can also make it more difficult for missing children to be discovered and returned and provided necessary medical care and treatment. Law enforcement agencies receive special training in handling cases involving missing or abducted children who have mental or physical disabilities.
FAQs
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a registered nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and we count on your charitable giving to help fulfill our mission to help find missing kids, reduce online child sexual exploitation, and help prevent child victimization.
Does the FBI get involved in missing children? ›
The FBI has jurisdiction to immediately investigate any reported mysterious disappearance or kidnapping involving a child. Do not wait to report a missing child. Call your local FBI field office or the closest international office.
How many kids have gone missing at Disney? ›
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) estimates that around 2,000 children disappear from amusem*nt parks, including both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, each year [1].
Is there a database for missing children? ›
NCMEC serves as a partner with OJP and OJJDP as the missing children clearinghouse and in secondary distribution of reports on behalf of AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) coordinators. In fiscal year (FY) 2022, NCMEC helped resolve cases involving 27,699 children who were reported missing.
What percentage of your donation goes to Save the Children? ›
You can be assured that Save the Children uses the valuable resources donors have provided in the most cost-effective ways possible. Our independently audited financial statements consistently show that out of every dollar spent, 86 cents goes directly toward helping children.
What is St. Jude's charity rating? ›
Charity Navigator ratings
ALSAC and St. Jude have four-star ratings for accountability and finance from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator. The rating is based on an assessment of financial efficiency, sustainability and trustworthiness.
What is the FBI child abduction unit? ›
FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) teams are deployed soon after an abduction has been reported to a local FBI field offices, FBI Headquarters, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or in other cases when the FBI determines an investigation is warranted.
How to protect your child from kidnapping? ›
Make sure younger kids know their names, address, phone number including area code, and who to call in case of an emergency. Review how to use 911 or a local emergency number. Discuss what to do if they get lost in a public place or store — most places have emergency procedures for handling lost kids.
What federal agency handles missing persons kidnapping? ›
FBI Assistance in Missing Persons Cases | United States Department of Justice.
What are the tunnels under Disney World? ›
The Guest-accessible areas of Magic Kingdom park are actually on the second floor of a massive structure. The "tunnel" below, known as the Utilidor, allows Cast Members, deliveries and even rubbish to be unknowingly transported below Guests' feet as they wait in line for their favorite attractions.
These tunnels were first built for Magic Kingdom. Smaller utilidor systems are built under the central section of Epcot's Future World, primarily beneath Spaceship Earth and Innoventions, and formerly at Pleasure Island. Disneyland, in California, also has a small utilidor system running throughout Tomorrowland.
Who owns Disney World? ›
Who is the longest missing child? ›
Disappearance of Marjorie West
| Marjorie West |
|---|
| Born | June 2, 1933 Bradford, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Disappeared | May 8, 1938 (aged 4) McKean County, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Status | Missing for 86 years and 8 days |
| Parents | Shirley (father) Cecilia (mother) |
2 more rowsKey Statistics (2019-2023)
Daily Reports in the US: In the United States alone, an average of 2,300 children are reported missing every day4. 3. Family Abductions: 203,900 children fall victim to family abductions, where a relative takes them without legal authority2.
What state has the most missing persons? ›
California is the state with the most missing persons, with 2,133 cases reported. Many factors could contribute to California's high number of missing persons, including its high population, large geographic area, and diverse communities.
Is the Abandoned children's Fund a legitimate charity? ›
Rating Information
This charity's score is 56%, earning it a One-Star rating. This overall score is calculated entirely from a single beacon score, weighted as follows: 100% Accountability & Finance. Learn more about our criteria and methodology. For more information about our alerts methodology, see here.
Is Invisible children a good charity? ›
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating.
Is Save the Children a good charity? ›
Charity watch groups name us as a top-rated children's charity among other children's charities and non-profit organizations. Included among these charity rankings are a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, an A rating from GenderFair and an A- rating from CharityWatch.
What is the best thing to donate to an orphanage? ›
6 Useful In-Kind Donations for orphanages
- Food. Food donations are perfect for orphanages, and they can be used in a variety of ways. ...
- Furniture and Bedding. ...
- Clothing and Hygiene. ...
- Books and Educational Materials. ...
- Games and Activities. ...
- Computer Labs/ Digital Classrooms.
Every 40 seconds, a child goes missing or is abducted in the United States. Approximately 840,000 children are reported missing each year and the F.B.I. estimates that between 85 and 90 percent of these are children. While most reports of missing or abducted children are resolved within hours, many involve situations where a child goes missing permanently or for an extended period of time. The following are some of the key issues surrounding missing and abducted children.
