• Reporting a Missing Child: You can report a missing child to the police at any time. While there's no waiting period to report a child as missing, Georgia law requires a 24-hour waiting period before a child can be officially classified as a runaway.

• Missing Juvenile Report (Under 24 Hours): If your child has been missing for less than 24 hours, file a "missing juvenile" report with the police. Be prepared to provide details such as when and where the child was last seen, what they were wearing, and any identifying characteristics. This information will be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.

• Runaway Report (After 24 Hours): If your child is still missing after 24 hours, contact the police again to update the report and have them classified as a runaway.

• Juvenile Pickup Order: If your child is classified as a runaway, you'll need to obtain a Juvenile Pickup Order from the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court, located at the Gwinnett Courthouse Annex, 115 Stone Mountain Street, Lawrenceville.

• Child Returns Home: If your child returns home, immediately notify the police so they can remove the child's information from the missing persons database. An officer may need to meet with the child.

• Information to Provide: When reporting a missing or runaway child, be prepared to provide information about the child's friends, associates, and places they might go.

• Photo of the Child: Provide a recent photo of the child, preferably a digital image, for the police department's digital evidence system.

• Social Media Information:If your child runs away or goes missing, provide the reporting officer or investigator with as much information about their social media profiles or online presence as possible. This includes social media accounts, usernames, handles, gamer tags, or anything else that the juvenile may use to communicate or post information online.

• Return Rates: While many children return home on their own (20% within 24 hours and 75% within a week, according to the U.S. Department of Justice), the police will thoroughly investigate all missing child reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens once the child is reported missing?

A: The police department will follow up with parents or guardians regarding the child’s whereabouts. Detectives will follow up on any leads or information regarding the child’s whereabouts. If appropriate, the department will provide information to surrounding police agencies and share the child’s photos on social media to solicit help from the public in locating the child.

Q: Can you track my child’s phone or computer?

A: In general, police departments are unable to track phones without a court order. To secure such an order, there must be specific and clear evidence indicating that a child is in immediate danger. Given this situation, it is highly advisable for parents and guardians to learn about the various location tracking applications that are available for phones and other mobile devices. If a location tracking app is installed on their child’s device, parents should promptly inform the responding officers, as this information can be crucial in ensuring the safety of the child.

Q: Will there be a statewide alert?

A: In the state of Georgia, these alerts are called Levi’s Calls but are commonly referred to as Amber Alerts. These alerts are administered by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and require that law enforcement have a reasonable belief that there has been an abduction, or the child is in immediate danger. Most of the runaways and missing juveniles reported to law enforcement do not meet the criteria.