STEP ONE

Contact authorities 

Making a police report is the first and most vital step in initiating a search for a missing person. Filing a police report ensures local law enforcement is alerted to the disappearance and can assess the situation to determine if the person may be in danger and if an investigation needs to be conducted.

STEP THREE

Contact family & friends

Many times, a simple lack of communication can occur, and a missing person can be found by contacting family, friends, and coworkers. Even after making a missing person report to police, be sure to reach out to others to find out if they have seen the individual or told where the person may be going.

STEP FIVE

Contact jails, shelters,
hospitals, AND morgues

It is important to remain cognizant of law enforcement’s limitations when searching for a missing person, especially adults as they have a right to go missing if they so choose. As difficult as it can be, it is necessary to contact hospitals and morgues to see if the individual is injured in the hospital or unidentified in a morgue. This can be a very difficult task and you may want to ask a friend or family member to help make the calls.

STEP SEVEN

Create a missing person flyer

Make a one-page flyer of the missing person.
The flyer should contain the following:
Preferably two current photographs of the missing person; Full name; Height; Weight; Age; Photo of vehicle and license plate; Place last seen; and Phone number of investigating law enforcement.

*NOTE: It is recommended you never place your own phone number or contact information on a missing person flyer. First, it is very important calls are handled by a professional so as not to compromise an investigation. Second, many times families will receive cruel, harassing, and misleading calls from the public and it is very important to protect yourself and your family by buffering these calls.

STEP NINE

Alert local newspapers

Getting local media to assist can sometimes be difficult. News stations are not likely to cover a missing person story unless it comes from law enforcement. It is much easier if law enforcement puts out a press release indicating a person is in danger. Speak to the detectives and ask if they will issue a press release.

Resources for Parents/Families

Keeping Children Safe

Since you can’t always be with your kids, it’s important to teach them how to find help and keep themselves safe. Most importantly, you need to do this in a way that doesn’t scare yourself or your children. Instead, you want to build your children’s self-confidence. Your kids will feel safer when they can confidently recognize dangerous situations and respond immediately.

Links:

• PKF’s Keeping Children Safe
• Autism Speaks – Preventing Wandering
• Childhelp USA – National Child Abuse Hotline
• FBI Resources for Parents
• radKIDS – Personal Empowerment Safety Education

Runaways

The myth about runaways is that they made the decision to go and will come home when they want to. The truth is that kids aren’t safe by themselves on the streets. In fact, runaway youth are more likely to become victims of abduction and sex trafficking. No child is prepared for life on the streets.

Links:

• PKF’s Suggestions for Recovery: Runaways
• National Runaway Safeline – Parents & Guardians
• State Missing Child Clearinghouses
• StopBullying.gov – Parents, What Can You Do

Human Trafficking

A staggering 85% of PKF’s missing children cases are considered endangered runaways and if the current statistic holds true that it is likely that one and five runaways will become victims of trafficking, then we are working on the frontlines of the trafficking of minors’ epidemic in the United States. PKF is committed to helping to recover these children and providing them with resources to return home when appropriate, or guide them to resources that can help these most vulnerable children.

Links:

• PKF’s Child Trafficking
• A Parent’s Guide to Human Trafficking
• Child Sex Trafficking in America: A Guide for Parents and Guardians
• Child Sexual Exploitation Guide for Parents and Caregivers
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center

Preventing Family Abduction

You may not realize that each year over 200,000 children are kidnapped by a family member. The good news is that family abductions can often be prevented. The following information can help you keep your children safe.

Links:

• PKF’s Preventing Family Abductions
• Child Find of America – Parent Help
• Department of Justice – The Crime of Family Abduction
• Report: America’s Hidden Crime: When the Kidnapper is Kin

International Family Abduction

Sometimes a family abductor will take the child out of the United States. For the most accurate and up-do-date information on international child abductions and the policies of specific countries, the Polly Klaas Foundation recommends the following resources.

Links:

• PKF’s When the Kidnapper Leaves the Country
• NCMEC’s Family Resource Guide on International Parental Kidnapping
• US Department of State – Children’s Passport Issuance
• U.S. Department of State – International Child Abduction