For families

If someone goes missing: what to do first, and what the police will ask for

Call the police straight away. There is no waiting period for a child or a young person, and families are told not to wait for an adult either. Here is what to have ready.

VantageIQ Technologies · October 4, 2026 · 3 minute read

Call first

If a child or a young person under 21 is missing, call your local police or 911 now. Federal law requires every state to make sure no police department has a waiting period for these reports, and the police must enter the report in the FBI's National Crime Information Center within two hours of receiving it.

For an adult of 21 or over there is no single national procedure, and each state sets its own rules. Report as soon as you can all the same. California and Maryland, for example, say plainly that there is no waiting period.

For a child, do not let a search of your own delay the call. The Justice Department's guide for families of missing children says to report first. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests a quick look in the places a child could be hiding, such as closets, beds and vehicles, and calling the police straight away.

What the police will ask for

• A recent photo that shows how they look now.
• Full name, date of birth, height, weight, and hair and eye color.
• Anything that sets them apart: glasses, braces, scars, birthmarks, tattoos.
• What they were wearing and carrying, such as a phone, a backpack or jewelry.
• When and where they were last seen, and who they were with.
• Medical conditions, medication and any special needs.
• Their phone number and the names they use online.
• Names and numbers for friends, teachers and coaches.
• The make, model, color and plate of any vehicle involved.
• Any custody dispute, and whether they have gone missing before.

What to leave alone

• Their room. Leave it as it is. Clothing, bedding and grooming items can help investigators.
• Their devices. Keep phones, tablets and computers safe for the police, and do not search them yourself.

Before the officer leaves

• Ask for the person to be entered in the FBI's National Crime Information Center Missing Person File, and confirm that it has been done.
• Start a notebook: who you spoke to, when, and what they said.
• For a child, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children on 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). It answers day and night, works with your family and the investigating agency, and helps make and distribute posters.

Alerts are the police's decision

A family cannot issue an AMBER Alert. Law enforcement decides, against criteria each state sets. The Justice Department's recommended criteria are that law enforcement reasonably believes a child of 17 or younger has been abducted and is in imminent danger of serious injury or death, and that there is enough of a description for an alert to help. An alert is issued only when the criteria are met.

Silver Alerts, for missing adults with dementia or a similar condition, are state programs, and the rules differ. In Maryland and North Carolina, for example, only law enforcement can ask for one.

If the search goes on

NamUs, a Justice Department program, is a free national database of missing and unidentified people. A family can enter a case. It is published once NamUs has checked it with the police and the police have agreed.

Get ready before you need it

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests preparing an ID kit for each child in advance, with current photos and medical and dental records. We think the same makes sense for an adult who lives alone or who might wander.