NCJ Number
140602
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 105-107
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Lake Patrol deputies of the Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff's Office, who face problems associated with outdoors recreation for which the area is noted, developed a program to address the problem of lost children.
Abstract
The Tag-a-Tot program, administered by the sheriff's department, provided each participant with a hospital-type identification bracelet with the child's name, age, date of issue, recreational area, and a control number printed on it. The control sheet, corresponding to the control number, provided more information on physical appearance, parent's vehicle, and emergency notification. The program could be adapted for other groups including senior citizens, foreign tourists, and individuals with mental or physical handicaps. The program was promoted through public service announcements and bumper stickers. About 1,200 children were tagged between April and September 1991. Objective evaluation data were collected through customer surveys mailed to 529 parents of participating children. The responses to the survey were very favorable; another measure of success has been the support for the program provided by major corporations. Finally, the average time needed to reunite a lost child with his family was reduced from 3 hours to 40 minutes.