Most missing children are located within hours, but unfortunately the passage of time works against those who are not. Experts repeatedly stress the importance of quickly establishing the facts, canvassing the area and finding witnesses.
It's against the law for police to require a waiting period for reporting missing children, and each child must be entered immediately into the state law enforcement system and National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children helps local law enforcement agencies with abduction cases, while the FBI's crimes against children unit coordinates these investigations through its field offices.
<<< Click on the map to find out about missing children clearinghouses in each state.
Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, U.S. Department of Justice