We Protect America's Children

    “In the summer of 2002, America was transfixed by a string of horrific kidnappings and child disappearances, including the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, the Utah teen who was snatched from her home, while her family slept,” “According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 58,200 children a year are abducted by strangers.  While some are found, many families are left to bear the painful void of a missing child.  America’s children deserve every protection we can afford them.  This legislation seeks to guarantee the safety we so desire for our children.”

    Specifically, the legislation increases the minimum and maximum penalties for the sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of children.  It also directs the sentencing commission to increase the base offense level for kidnapping. 

    Furthermore, it removes the statute of limitations for child abductions and for many felony sex offenses.  This provision will be particularly helpful in situations where DNA evidence conclusively proves the identity of a perpetrator years after the crime was committed.  Additionally, it allows judges to extend the term for supervision of released sex offenders up to a maximum of life, and denies pretrial release for child rapists or child abductors. 

    In addition to increasing criminal penalties for child predators, we also established funds for an AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) alert program, which provides a rapid response to the most serious child abduction cases, by using the eyes of law enforcement officers and every-day Americans to quickly find and recover missing children. 

    The bill establishes an amber alert coordinator within the Department of Justice to assist states with developing, enhancing, and coordinating their amber alert plans.  The legislation also authorizes $5,000,000 to be distributed to the Department of Justice to award grants to encourage the development of amber alert activities. 

    The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), which also falls under the Justice Department will receive funding to go towards a Sex Offender Apprehension Program.  This would allow money to be used by local law enforcement to track sex offenders that violate terms of their release.   

NOTE: This page dose not list all of the missing children in your state, it only list those who's cases are being investigated by The Center Missing and Exploited Children. Check with your local law enforcement agency to inquire about cases not listed. Click on your state below and find out if you can help in any of the listed missing child cases. If you can aid in any way, please contact your local FBI field office or your local law-enforcement agency. To find your nearest FBI filed office click on the link below as indicated.