National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Encyclopedia
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a private, non-profit organization
established in 1984 by the United States Congress
.
, the NCMEC acts as an information clearinghouse and resource for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities to assist in locating missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction
, child sexual abuse
and child pornography
. John Walsh
, Noreen Gosch, and others advocated establishing the center as a result of frustration stemming from a lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and other government agencies.
The Center provides information to help locate children reported missing (by parental abduction, child abduction
, or running away from home) and to assist physically and sexually abused children. In this resource capacity, the NCMEC distributes photographs of missing children and accepts tips and information from the public. It also coordinates these activities with numerous state and federal law enforcement agencies.
were processed through the NCMEC for the United States Department of State
, Office of Children's Issues under contract
with the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Justice
. On April 1, 2008, the Office of Children’s Issues in the Department of State re-assumed U.S. Central Authority duties for processing incoming cases under the Hague Abduction Convention. As a result of its status as a government contractor as well as funding provided under the Missing Children Act and Missing Children's Assistance Act, the National Center receives (as of 2008) US$40-million funding each year from the United States Government.
In 1998, NCMEC founded a separate international organization, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
(ICMEC), to do similar work in the international arena. In August, 2008, the ICMEC was granted "Special Consultative Status" with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), primarily to assist the UN by providing expertise regarding the issues of child sexual exploitation and child abduction.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is an associate of PACT Parents and Abducted Children Together
in the United Kingdom.
(NPIA) at Bramshill, Hampshire. Launched in 2000, the website distributes images of missing children to the public and police agencies worldwide. Posters can be printed directly from the website by the police and public allowing these to be displayed anywhere.cit req
along with the public relations firm PainePR produced a children't book title The Great Tomato Adventure: A Story About Smart Safety Choices along with a series of educational tools for parents and guardians of older children called Teachable Moments Guides. The books were produced and published by Arbor Books and the foreword was written by actress, and best-selling children’s book author, Jada Pinkett Smith
. Both tools were introduced as an extension of the successful child safety program that launched in 2006. The book was made available as a free download via the Power of Parents program Web site.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
established in 1984 by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Establishment and overview
Primarily funded by the Justice DepartmentUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, the NCMEC acts as an information clearinghouse and resource for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities to assist in locating missing children and to raise public awareness about ways to prevent child abduction
Child abduction
Child abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
, child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
and child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. John Walsh
John Walsh
John Edward Walsh is an American television personality, criminal investigator, human and victim rights advocate and formerly the host, as well as creator, of America's Most Wanted...
, Noreen Gosch, and others advocated establishing the center as a result of frustration stemming from a lack of resources and coordination between law enforcement and other government agencies.
The Center provides information to help locate children reported missing (by parental abduction, child abduction
Child abduction
Child abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
, or running away from home) and to assist physically and sexually abused children. In this resource capacity, the NCMEC distributes photographs of missing children and accepts tips and information from the public. It also coordinates these activities with numerous state and federal law enforcement agencies.
International aspects
Effective September 5, 1995, applications seeking the return of or access to children in the United States under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child AbductionHague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, or Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral treaty developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law that provides an expeditious method to return a child internationally abducted from one member nation to...
were processed through the NCMEC for the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, Office of Children's Issues under contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
with the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. On April 1, 2008, the Office of Children’s Issues in the Department of State re-assumed U.S. Central Authority duties for processing incoming cases under the Hague Abduction Convention. As a result of its status as a government contractor as well as funding provided under the Missing Children Act and Missing Children's Assistance Act, the National Center receives (as of 2008) US$40-million funding each year from the United States Government.
In 1998, NCMEC founded a separate international organization, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children is a global service agency working against child exploitation and abduction.The group works with Interpol, law enforcement, and elected officials worldwide to combat child pornography and abduction.ICMEC was founded in 1998 by the USA...
(ICMEC), to do similar work in the international arena. In August, 2008, the ICMEC was granted "Special Consultative Status" with the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), primarily to assist the UN by providing expertise regarding the issues of child sexual exploitation and child abduction.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is an associate of PACT Parents and Abducted Children Together
Parents and Abducted Children Together
Parents & Abducted Children Together is an international non-profit organisation which specialises in fighting international child abduction and in helping law enforcement agencies find missing children.-Establishment and overview:...
in the United Kingdom.
Global Missing Children's network
The UK Missing Kids is a website developed by the NCMEC that distributes images of missing children to the public and police agencies worldwide, and forms part of a 17-country Global Missing Children's network. The ACPO approved police website is managed by the Missing Persons Bureau based at the National Policing Improvement AgencyNational Policing Improvement Agency
The United Kingdom's National Policing Improvement Agency is a non-departmental public body established to support police by providing expertise in such areas as information technology, information sharing, and recruitment.-Background:...
(NPIA) at Bramshill, Hampshire. Launched in 2000, the website distributes images of missing children to the public and police agencies worldwide. Posters can be printed directly from the website by the police and public allowing these to be displayed anywhere.cit req
Publications
In 2007 NCMEC and DuracellDuracell
Duracell is a brand of batteries manufactured by Procter & Gamble.Additionally, Duracell owns the Procell professional-use brand.-Products:Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V...
along with the public relations firm PainePR produced a children't book title The Great Tomato Adventure: A Story About Smart Safety Choices along with a series of educational tools for parents and guardians of older children called Teachable Moments Guides. The books were produced and published by Arbor Books and the foreword was written by actress, and best-selling children’s book author, Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Koren Pinkett Smith is an American actress, producer, director, author, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman. She began her career in 1990, when she made a guest appearance in the short-lived sitcom True Colors. She starred in A Different World, produced by Bill Cosby, and she featured...
. Both tools were introduced as an extension of the successful child safety program that launched in 2006. The book was made available as a free download via the Power of Parents program Web site.
See also
- AMBER AlertAMBER AlertAn AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
- Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP)Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP)The is a non-profit organization that fights Internet child pornography and works to help parents prevent children from viewing age-inappropriate material online....
- Child abductionChild abductionChild abduction or Child theft is the unauthorized removal of a minor from the custody of the child's natural or legally appointed guardians....
- Code AdamCode AdamCode Adam is a "missing child" safety program in the United States and Canada, originally created by Wal-Mart retail stores in 1994. It is named in memory of Adam Walsh, the 6-year-old son of John Walsh . Adam was abducted from a Sears department store in Florida in 1981 and was later found murdered...
- FBI
- Financial Coalition Against Child PornographyFinancial Coalition Against Child PornographyThe Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography is a coalition of credit card issuers and Internet services companies that seeks to eliminate commercial child pornography by taking action on the payment systems that are used to fund these illegal operations....
- KidnappingKidnappingIn criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
- National Child Victim Identification ProgramNational Child Victim Identification ProgramThe National Child Victim Identification Program is the world's largest database of child pornography, maintained by the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the United States Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the purpose of identifying...
- International child abductionInternational child abductionThe term international child abduction is generally synonymous with international parental kidnapping, child snatching, and child stealing. However, the more precise legal usage of international child abduction originates in private international law and refers to the illegal removal of children...
- Child abduction alert systemChild abduction alert systemA child abduction alert system is an alert system designed to produce a coordinated response, by the emergency services and media, if a child is abducted.- Europe :...