Resources & Guidance

Written in plain language by a family that went through this. These guides are not legal advice and don't replace law enforcement — they help you work with it.

Guides

The First HoursWhat to do right now, in order. Who to call, what to have ready, what to ask for.Adult vs. Child vs. ElderHow the response differs — AMBER and Silver Alerts, the 'voluntary missing' problem, and medical cases.Working With PoliceJurisdiction, report numbers, NCIC entry, how to escalate when you feel brushed off.Retracing Their StepsBuilding a timeline, phones and bank records, security-camera footage, and organizing searchers.Making an Effective FlyerWhat belongs on a poster, where to put it, and the mistakes that waste a flyer.Helping Someone Else's SearchHow to share responsibly, what to do if you think you've seen someone, and how not to make things worse.

National agencies & hotlines

Who	When to use them	Contact
911 / local police	Always first. File the report where the person was last seen or where they live.	911 or the department's non-emergency line
NCMEC — National Center for Missing & Exploited Children	Any missing child under 18, including runaways. Case managers, poster distribution, and coordination with police. Free.	1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) · missingkids.org
NamUs — National Missing & Unidentified Persons System	National database run by the Dept. of Justice. Families can register a case directly (it is then verified with police). Free DNA collection for families.	namus.nij.ojp.gov · 1-833-872-5176
FBI	Suspected abduction, trafficking, or if the person may have crossed state lines. Also for tips.	1-800-CALL-FBI · tips.fbi.gov
National Runaway Safeline	Teens who may have left on their own; confidential help for the youth and the family.	1-800-RUNAWAY · 1800runaway.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline	If there are signs the person is being controlled, moved, or exploited.	1-888-373-7888 · text 233733
Black and Missing Foundation	Advocacy and media help for missing persons of color, whose cases often get less coverage.	blackandmissinginc.com
BIA Missing & Murdered Unit / tribal police	Cases involving Native people or occurring on tribal lands — jurisdiction can be complicated; ask who has the lead.	bia.gov/service/mmu
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline	For you. Waiting is brutal. Call or text, any time.	988

Find your state's missing persons clearinghouse

Every state has a missing persons clearinghouse, usually inside the state police or Department of Public Safety. They coordinate between local departments and can issue state-wide alerts. The two directories below are kept current by national agencies:

NamUs state search

Search open cases by state and see which agencies are handling them.

Open NamUs search

NCMEC clearinghouse directory

Phone numbers and websites for every state clearinghouse.

Open the directory

Quick search by state: AL · AK · AZ · AR · CA · CO · CT · DE · DC · FL · GA · HI · ID · IL · IN · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MA · MI · MN · MS · MO · MT · NE · NV · NH · NJ · NM · NY · NC · ND · OH · OK · OR · PA · RI · SC · SD · TN · TX · UT · VT · VA · WA · WV · WI · WY