Missing and Abducted Children

260 Pages·2012·3.51 MB·English

Missing
and
Abducted
Children:
A Law-Enforcement
Guide to Case Investigation
and Program Management

Missing and Abducted Children:
A Law-Enforcement Guide to
Case Investigation and Program Management
Edited by
Stephen E. Steidel
Third Edition
2006
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®
Charles B. Wang International Children’s Building
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3175
1-800-THE-LOST®
(1-800-843-5678)
ORI VA007019W
This project was supported by Grant No. 2007-MC-CX-K001 awarded by the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Points of view or
opinions in this publication are those of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and do not
necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2006 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
All rights reserved. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®, 1-800-THE-LOST®, CyberTipline®,
LOCATERTM, NetSmartz®, and Picture Them Home® are registered trademarks/service marks of the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject
matter covered. The publisher is distributing this publication with the understanding that neither it nor
the authors are engaged in rendering legal or other professional services. If legal advice or other
expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Contents
Acknowledgments…xi
Letter From Ernie Allen…xvii
Foreword by John Walsh…xix
An Issue Perspective by Stephen E. Steidel…1
Quick Reference…1
Historical Overview…3
The Numbers…10
Law Enforcement’s Response to Reports of Missing Children…12
Model Policies…13
Agency Accreditation…13
Significant Trends, Projects, and Programs…14
Law-Enforcement Training…14
The AMBER Alert and Other Missing-Children
Notification Programs…14
Secondary Distribution of AMBER Alerts…15
Alternate Notification Systems…16
Protecting Children From Online Victimization…16
Developing Child-Safety Programs…17
Investigation of Family-Abduction Cases by the Prosecutor’s Office…17
Missing-Children Clearinghouses…18
Newborn/Infant Abduction Program…18
Identifying and Tracking the Sex Offender…19
Extending Resources to Missing Young Adults…19
Children Missing From Care Project…20
Reunification of Missing Children…20
Obtaining Resource Material…20
Conclusion…21
References: Citations and Related Resources…21
The Initial Response by Stephen E. Steidel…25
Quick Reference…25
Initial-Response Investigative Checklist…27
Administrative…27
First Responder…28
Supervisory Officer…30
Investigative Officer…31
Initial-Response Components…34
Administrative Component…34
Call Intake…34
Radio Broadcasts…35
Nlets…35
Fugitive Search Plans…36
Media Relations…36
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First-Responder Component…36
Responding to the Scene…36
On-Scene Activities…36
Supervisory Component…40
Debriefing the First Responder…40
Establishing a Command Post…40
Mobilizing Investigative Resources…41
Implementing Perimeter Patrol…41
Maintaining Media Relations…41
Supervising the Situation…42
Investigative Component…42
Debriefing the First Responder(s)…42
Interviewing Witnesses…43
Developing Assessment Criteria…43
Activating Response Protocols…44
Search Component…44
Conclusion…45
References: Citations and Related Resources…46
Nonfamily Abduction by Charles Masino and H. Wayne Sheppard…49
Quick Reference…49
Nonfamily-Abduction Investigative Checklist…51
Initial Investigation…51
Prolonged Investigation…51
Recovery/Case Closure…52
Key Findings From NISMART-2 Regarding Nonfamily Abduction…53
The Initial Response…54
Tactical Considerations…56
Neighborhood Canvass…56
Information-Management System…56
Use of Polygraph…57
Establishing a Command Post…57
Family Liaison…58
Liaison With Community Groups and Nonprofit Organizations…59
Consultation With NCMEC’s Team Adam…60
Investigative Considerations…60
General…60
Regarding Newborn/Infant Abductions...61
Statistics…61
The Abductor…62
Use of Violence…64
The Response…64
Crime-Scene Analysis and Offender Profiles…66
Criminal-Investigation Assessment Process…66
Suspect Profiles...67
The Prolonged Investigation…70
Recovery/Case Closure…72
Reunification Issues of Nonfamily Abduction…72
Guidelines for Handling the Reunification of a
Nonfamily Abducted Child…74
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Conclusion…74
References: Citations and Related Resources…75
Family Abduction by David Barnard and David Peery…79
Quick Reference…79
Family-Abduction Investigative Checklist…81
The Initial Investigation…81
The Prolonged Investigation…81
International Abductions…82
Recovery/Case Closure…82
Key Findings From NISMART-2 Regarding Family Abduction…83
Laws…84
The Child-Victim…85
Investigative Issues…86
Jurisdiction…86
Civil Law…86
Enforcement of Custody Orders…87
Liability…87
Restraints in Civil Law…88
Restraints in Criminal Law…88
Exigent Circumstances…89
Keep the Issues of Custody and Abuse Separate…89
Summary…89
The Initial Investigation…90
The Investigator’s Perspective…90
Activating an AMBER Alert…90
Review of the Court File…90
Background Investigation…91
Dissemination of Information…91
Child Abducted From the Custody of Child Protective Services…91
Working With the Left-Behind Parent/Guardian…92
Monitoring Communications…93
Hidden Agendas…94
Working With the Abductor…94
Use of Civil Orders in Family Abductions…95
Evaluating/Filing a Criminal Charge…97
Entries Into NCIC…97
The Prolonged Investigation…98
The Federal UFAP Warrant…98
School Records…99
Other Records to Flag…99
Mailed Correspondence…99
Bank Accounts/Credit-Card Accounts…99
Telephone Records…100
Social Security Number…100
Federal Parent Locator Service…100
Private Interests/Activities…100
Involving Other Jurisdictions in the Case…100
International Investigations…102
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Recovery/Case Closure…103
Reunification Issues of Family Abduction…103
Guidelines for Handling the Reunification of a Family Abducted Child…105
Case Closure…105
Conclusion…106
References: Citations and Related Resources…106
The Runaway Child by Lee Reed…109
Quick Reference…109
Runaway Investigative Checklist…111
The Initial Investigation…111
The Prolonged Investigation…111
Recovery/Case Closure…112
Key Findings From NISMART-2 Regarding Runaway Children…113
Investigating Cases of Runaway Children…114
Role of the First Responder…114
Role of the Assigned Investigator…114
Family Residence…114
Friends…115
School/Teachers/School Resource Officers…116
Community Agencies/Organizations…116
Assessing Cases of Runaway Children…116
Unusual Circumstances…116
Runaways and the Internet…117
Prolonged Investigation…118
Recovery and Case Closure…119
Procedural Steps…119
Disclosure of Exploitation or Abuse…119
Returning Runaways From Distant Locations…119
Reunification Issues of Runaway Children…120
Guidelines for Handling the Reunification of a Runaway Child…121
Evaluation of Agency Policies Regarding Runaway Children…122
Proactive Programs…122
Conclusion…123
References: Citations and Related Resources…123
Agency Self-Assessment: Cases of Runaway Children…125
Investigative Considerations by Thomas B. Smith…127
Quick Reference…127
Information Management…129
Tracking Tips and Leads…130
Gathering Complete Victim/Family Information…132
Crime-Scene Procedures…133
The Seven “Ps” of Basic Crime-Scene Search…134
Prepare…134
Protect…135
Preserve…135
Precise…135
Process…136
vi - MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN
Packaging…136
Progress…136
Crime-Scene Reevaluation…137
Searches and the Searching Process…137
Managing Search Personnel…138
Search Patterns…139
Search Warrants and Physical Evidence…139
The Concept of Lawful Search and Seizure…139
The Search-Warrant Process…139
Items to Search for…140
Investigative Recommendations for Crimes Committed
Against Children Involving Computers…142
Search-Warrant Execution…142
Searching Without a Warrant…142
Consent Searches…143
Physical Evidence…143
Interview and Interrogation…144
How Witnesses are Found…145
Interview Versus Interrogation…145
The Corpus Rule…145
The Use of Miranda…145
Benefits of an Early Interview…146
Three Phases of the Interview Process…147
The Preinterview Phase…147
The Interview Phase…149
The Interview Wrap-Up or Conclusion Phase…150
References: Related Resources…151
Investigative Lead Sheet…154
Lead-Sheet Log…155
Neighborhood-Canvass Log…155
Vehicle-Canvass Log…156
Volunteer/Searcher Log…156
Interview/Interrogation Checklist…157
Investigative Resources by Stephen E. Steidel…161
Quick Reference…161
Resource Agencies and Organizations…163
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®…163
Case Analysis and Support Division…165
Poster and Photo Distribution Unit…165
Forensic Imaging Unit…165
Exploited Child Unit…165
LOCATERTM…165
Project ALERT…166
Team Adam…166
Cold Case Unit…166
Family Advocacy Division…166
Infant Abduction Prevention Program…166
NCMEC Investigative Publications…167
NCMEC’s Commitment to Law Enforcement…167
MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN - vii
National Crime Information Center…167
Missing Person File…167
Unidentified Person File…168
Off-Line Search…169
Missing-Children Clearinghouses…170
Nonprofit, Missing-Children Organizations…170
National Association for Search & Rescue…171
Federal Bureau of Investigation…171
U.S. Postal Service…172
Federal Parent Locator Service…173
U.S. Department of State…173
Interpol…174
U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement…174
U.S. Marshals Service…175
U.S. Secret Service…175
U.S. Department of Defense…175
U.S. Office of Personnel Management…176
Local, State, and Regional Resources…176
Preincident Planning…177
References: Citations and Related Resources…178
Crisis Media Relations by Hugh Munn…181
Quick Reference…181
The Law Enforcement-Media Relationship…183
Legal Review…184
At the Scene…184
Access to Records…185
Taking Along the Media…185
Perceptions…186
Crisis Forecasting…187
Managing High-Profile Cases…187
Recommendations and Suggestions…189
References: Related Resources…189
Management Issues by Thomas B. Smith…191
Quick Reference…191
Define and Evaluate Current Operational Procedures…193
Develop New Operational Policies and Procedures…195
Identify New Objectives and Goals…196
Consider Establishing a Dedicated Missing-Child Unit…197
Evaluate Implementation Issues…197
Program Implementation…199
Children Missing From Care: Special Management Considerations…200
Conclusion…201
References: Citations and Related Resources…202
Agency Self-Assessment: Missing-Children Preparedness…203
Agency Self-Assessment: Children Missing From Care…206
Use of Volunteers in Missing-Child Units…207
Volunteer Assigned to Missing-Child Unit: Sample Job
Description Statement…208
viii - MISSING AND ABDUCTED CHILDREN