This instructional guide provides parents in Tribal communities with information on how law enforcement agencies are likely to respond upon being informed that a child is missing or has been abducted, as well as how the parents of such a child can assist the police in the investigation.
In explaining why the information provided to parents in this guide is important, it notes that the more the parents of a missing or abducted child know about the investigative process, the more likely it is that the child will be recovered. The guide's first section outlines three steps for the initial investigative response. The first step involves the immediate response, which consists of an interview with parents/guardians and other family members. Instructions are provided for how parents and family members should prepare for this interview with police. The second step involves the police verification of information relevant to the investigation. This involves determining basic facts and obtaining descriptions and details about the missing child. The third step consists of the preliminary investigation, which involves quick searches. For each of these steps, suggestions are provided to parents on how they can best assist police in the step. The second section of the guide identifies and discusses two unique challenges in the investigation, i.e., jurisdictional complexities and no centralized source of reporting. The guide's concluding section poses and answers "frequently asked questions."