California Missing Children

California runs one of the largest missing persons systems in the country. The California Department of Justice's Missing and Unidentified Persons Section is the state clearinghouse, with a public online search of missing children and adults, and the California Highway Patrol activates AMBER Alerts statewide. California added two alerts no other state had: the Feather Alert in 2023 for missing Indigenous people and the Ebony Alert in 2024 for missing Black children and young women, both aimed at cases that AMBER criteria miss.

California law requires police to take a missing child report immediately, without a waiting period, and to enter it into the state and national databases within two hours.

Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.

• California MIssing Person SearchOnline Search
• California Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• California Missing Children ClearinghouseMissing Children Hotline
• National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenCalifornia Missing Children
• California Amber Alert SystemCalifornia Amber Alert Plan
• What To Do If Your Child Is MissingMissing Children Assistance
• California Missing Children Information and ResourcesMissing Children Advocacy
• California Department of Justice

California's AMBER Alert is activated by the California Highway Patrol at the request of the investigating agency when a child under 18 has been abducted, is in imminent danger of serious injury or death, and there is information about the child, the suspect or a vehicle that could help the public. The CHP sends the alert to broadcasters, the wireless emergency alert system, Caltrans freeway signs, the lottery network and social media, and the alert can be issued regionally or statewide. California issued the first AMBER Alert to use freeway signs in 2002.

• California Highway Patrol AMBER AlertCalifornia's AMBER Alert plan and active alerts, checked September 25, 2026
• National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenNational case posters, the CyberTipline and the 1-800-THE-LOST hotline, checked September 25, 2026
• AMBER Alert national programFederal AMBER Alert coordination, checked September 25, 2026

The Missing and Unidentified Persons Section of the California Department of Justice maintains the statewide missing persons database, posts a public search of missing children with photos and case details, coordinates with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and with NamUs, and runs the state's Missing Persons DNA Program, which takes family reference samples to identify unidentified remains. The report goes to the local police or the county sheriff. Get the case number, ask whether the child is in the state Missing Persons System and the National Crime Information Center yet, and call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as the next step.

• California DOJ Missing PersonsStatewide missing persons search and the Missing and Unidentified Persons Section, checked September 25, 2026
• California Police DepartmentsCity police departments that take missing child reports
• California County Sheriff DirectorySheriff offices for all 58 counties
• California Most WantedFugitives and outstanding warrants

California's Feather Alert, in effect since 2023, lets the CHP broadcast a missing Indigenous person under circumstances suggesting danger, and the Ebony Alert, in effect since 2024, does the same for Black youth and young women who are missing and at risk, including suspected trafficking victims. Silver Alerts cover missing seniors and adults with disabilities, Yellow Alerts cover fatal hit and run suspects and Blue Alerts cover suspects who have harmed an officer. Case files stay with the investigating agency and can be withheld while the investigation is active under the Public Records Act, while the DOJ missing persons listing is public.

• NamUsNational database of missing and unidentified persons, checked September 25, 2026
• California Criminal RecordsCriminal history and court records in California

These federal and national sources complement California's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when California state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

NCMEC, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Congressionally authorized national clearinghouse for missing children. NCMEC operates the 24-hour hotline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and the CyberTipline for exploitation reports.

AMBER Alert, U.S. Department of Justice The federally coordinated AMBER Alert network. Each state operates its own plan under DOJ AMBER Alert Program guidance.

NISMART, National Incidence Study OJJDP's periodic survey of missing-child incidence in the United States, the authoritative federal statistical source.