AMBER ALERT 2010 BLOG

This Checklist provides an investigative framework for officers when coming in contact with unsupervised

make educated decisions when helping to safeguard unsupervised and/or runaway children. Officers

are encouraged to rely on the laws in their jurisdiction as well as their intuition and experience when

making decisions regarding the best interest of the child and community.

The initial phase of the field interview should be conducted in a manner so as to establish the child’s

statements, which will form the basis in assessing the child’s level of risk.

conducting the field interview(s).

[ ] Obtain identifying information, such as name and address, and descriptors such as height,

weight, and age. Remember the child may be reluctant to provide the information or may provide

incorrect information.

[ ] Query information obtained through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime

Information Center’s (NCIC) database and the state/territorial law-enforcement system counterpart.

If a record is located, determine the child’s status, such as missing or a charged offense, and

determine whether grounds exist to immediately place the child in protective custody and transport

the child for proper investigative follow-up, placement, or disposition. If no record is located,

proceed with the field interview.

[ ] Who have you associated with while on the street?

[ ] What is your relationship with this/these individual(s)?

[ ] Where have you stayed?

[ ] With whom have you stayed?

[ ] How long have you stayed with them?

[ ] How long have you spent time on the street, and what have you done while on the street?

someone may be looking for him or her. Focus on deviations in behavior, both verbal and non-verbal,

exhibited by the child during this initial interview phase. Keep in mind the child may be deceptive

or fail to disclose information due to concerns such as fear, intimidation, or threats of reprisal.

him or her for proper investigative follow-up, placement, or disposition.

remain unsupervised. Continue to look for discrepancies in information obtained in the initial phase

of the field interview with information obtained during the second phase of the interview.

[ ] Full name.

[ ] Nickname(s).

[ ] Full physical description to include clothing, body piercings, tattoos, and any personal items

on personal items.

necessary to protect themselves from exploitation on the streets.

[ ] Place of birth.

[ ] Addresses, both current and prior.

[ ] Home phone number.

[ ] Cell phone number.

[ ] Name of school attending or has attended.

[ ] Date last attended school.

[ ] Employment information, if the child is employed, including name, address, and phone

number of the employer.

child at

[ ] Home.

[ ] School.

[ ] Ask the child if he or she is under the care of a doctor. If so obtain the doctor’s name, address,

and phone number.

[ ] Determine if the child is taking any prescription medication and/or other drugs, ranging from

over-the-counter medications to illegal substances, and if he or she is in possession of any. Note

any drug dependencies putting the child at risk.

[ ] Ask the child if he or she has been involved in or the victim of any crimes since leaving home.

Potential risk factors and/or indicators of trafficking and exploitation include

[ ] History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse.

[ ] Signs of current physical abuse and/or sexually transmitted diseases.

[ ] History of running away or current status as a runaway.

[ ] Appearance of expensive gifts, clothing, or other costly items with no valid explanation of

their source.

[ ] Presence of an older boy-/girlfriend.

[ ] Drug addiction.

[ ] Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities.

[ ] Gang involvement.

[ ] Ask the child for information about family members, both immediate and extended, including

name, address, home/business phone number(s), and place(s) of employment.

[ ] Determine the relationship(s) the child has with the identified family members.

[ ] Identify and explore any dysfunctional relationships between family member(s) and the child. Keep

in mind the child may have left home due to mental, physical, or sexual abuse or exploitation at

the hands of a family member or individual otherwise known to the child.

[ ] Ask the child to provide names, addresses, and phone numbers of friends who live or lived nearby

and those with whom he or she attends or attended school.

[ ] Identify and determine if the child is out of his or her zone of safety based on the child’s age, the

child’s level of maturity, and environment in which the child is found. If so consider placing the

child in protective custody and transporting the child for proper investigative follow-up, placement,

or disposition.

Additional information must be obtained, based on the initial and secondary information gathered, in

order to make a determination about allowing the child to remain unsupervised or placing the child

in protective custody.

[ ] Ask communications to check for any prior contact or calls for service with the child or child’s

family members

[ ] Check with surrounding jurisdictions for prior contact with the child and the child’s family members

(1-800-843-5678) for previous intake or new intake of information regarding reports of missing

and/or sexually exploited children

[ ] Check with the appropriate state/territorial missing-child (person) clearinghouse(s) for any prior

contact with the child or the child’s family members

[ ] Check with the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)

[ ] Contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 for assistance

in cases of trafficking

[ ] Query NCIC utilizing non-unique identifiers

[ ] Check with social services for prior contact with the child or the child’s family members

[ ] Check with homeless shelters for any prior contact with the child

[ ] Check with the person/people the child identified as the last one(s) to see him or her at home

[ ] Check with the person/people the child identified as the last one(s) to see him or her at school

[ ] Check with the child’s family members to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s friends to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s school to obtain additional information about the child

[ ] Check with the child’s place of employment, if employed, to obtain additional information about

the child