Endangered Missing | Just
what the term says. This is used when a person disappears under suspicious circumstances, or has a condition which may endanger their welfare, or when someone is believed to be in danger. This is used very often with children, even in cases of possible Non-Family Abduction or Family Abductions. |
Endangered Runaway | Used when a child leaves home voluntarily. Due to their minor status, they are also considered endangered. |
Family Abduction | This is used when a child (a person under the age of 18) has been known to have been taken by a non-custodial family member. The vast majority of these cases involve parents, although other family may be involved. |
Non-Family Abduction | This is used when a child is taken by a non-family member. However, not all suspected Non-Family Abductions are labeled this way. It was overused in the past and now is rarely used unless someone saw the child taken by someone else. |
Involuntary | The adult version of Non-Family Abduction. Used when an adult is believed to have been taken against their will. |
Missing | Used usually in cases where adults have vanished and there is no evidence of foul play. Children rarely use this one - a case that would be missing for an adult is usually Endangered Missing for a child. |
Lost/Injured Missing | This is also called Catastrophe. Used when someone is injured and missing because of that condition, lost due to some sort of natural disaster, or lost in a situation where it is likely an accident occured, such as a hiking trip. Infrequently used. |
NCMEC | The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the largest missing child clearinghouse. It is a not-for-profit organization. |
Age-progression | A usually computerized image showing how a person missing for a great length of time may look today. Sometimes abbreviated as "AP". |
NCIC | The National Crime Information Center. It enters missing people under five categories - Endangered, Catastrophe, Juvenile, Involuntary, and Disability. Minors have been required to be entered into the database since the early 90's. Most minors, regardless of circumstances, are placed in Juvenile. |
UFAP | A warrant issued by the FBI for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Used to get the FBI involved in a missing person's case. |
Hague Treaty | A treaty signed by many countries. Drafted in 1980, it states that a child taken out of the country of their residence must be returned to that country to decide custody matters of the child. Although this is widely signed and invoked often, it is rarely used. |