How many officers are actively searching for children who have been reported missing from their jurisdictions or other states? Do those officers know what a missing or exploited child looks like or acts like? Unfortunately, for many law enforcement agencies across the United States, the answer to both questions is No.

In order to understand this regrettable absence in officer training and experience, it is essential to first explore the statistics regarding the number of missing children and the circumstances that contribute to them becoming missing or exploited.