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Index/Topics/Missing Children Classification

Missing Children Classification

The process by which the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children classifies and reports missing children cases, including the use of categories such as runaways, family abductions, and missing-from-care youth.

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Jan 29, 2026

How does NCMEC define and count a 'missing child' in its datasets?

treats a “” not as a single legal status but as any child for whom NCMEC has been asked to provide assistance—typically through reports made by families, law enforcement, or child-welfare professional...