In Focus: Child Protection: Law Enforcement

• NCJ Number: 254696
• Date Published: March 2022
• Length: 1 page
• Publication Series: OJJDP In Focus
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Youth-Oriented Material; Report (Technical Assistance); Program/Project Description; Grants and Funding; Factsheet

Annotation

This brief describes the features and funding of programs administered by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to enhance the efforts of federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in investigating cases of missing, abducted, and exploited children, as well as ensuring that victims receive trauma-informed care and that offenders are prosecuted effectively.   

Abstract

One such program is the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which is an information clearinghouse and resource on missing and exploited children. It operates a 24-hour missing children's hotline. The Center received funding of 90.2 million in fiscal years (FYs) 2017-2019. A second OJJDP-funded program focused on missing and abducted children is the AMBER Alert Program, which functions in each state to provide to the public an alert and information to facilitate the rescue of missing and abducted children in imminent danger. OJJDP funding for AMBER Alert was $10.2 million for FYs 2017-2019. A third OJJDP-funded program is the Internet Crimes Against Children Program. It is a national network of 61 task forces trained and managed by just over 4,500 law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies. OJJDP funding for this program in FYs 2017-2019 was $94.4 million. The report summarizes participants’ responses to questions about resilience and community safety asked at four virtual town hall meetings. It also includes recommendations to OJJDP on how to protect Native youth, promote their well-being, and support emerging leaders. The meetings and a supplemental survey yielded feedback from nearly 400 youth.