NCJ Number
129423
Date Published
1989
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings and recommendations regarding the status of the Texas voluntary missing child prevention and identification pilot program on school campuses.
Abstract
The Manor, Pflugerville, and Round Rock independent school districts were selected to participate in the pilot program which will continue throughout the 1988-89 school year. Designated contact persons from each district met with Texas Education Agency staff to discuss procedures for publicity and public information, training for community volunteers, establishment of a timeline, documentation, and evaluation of the pilot program. The programs include fingerprinting and photographing participating students. Instructional goals for prekindergarten through grade 12 are designed to help students identify unsafe situations and be aware of appropriate reactions to such situations. Instruction topics at appropriate age levels include the use of directory information, ways to summon help, problem solving/decisionmaking models, missing child legislation and legislation terminology, students rights and responsibilities within the law, and the juvenile justice process. Data collected from each participating district will provide the basis for evaluating the pilot programs. This report recommends the appropriate use of existing student data files in locating missing school-age children, appropriate monthly distribution to schools of posters with photos and information on missing children, and voluntary fingerprinting and photographing of each student entering grade 1 and retention of the fingerprint card and photograph in the permanent record file of each student.