Indiana Missing Children

A missing child in Indiana is reported to the local police or county sheriff, and the Indiana State Police runs the Indiana Missing Children Clearinghouse and the state's AMBER Alert plan. Indiana's clearinghouse posts a public list of missing children with photos, and the State Police issue Silver Alerts for missing children and adults who do not meet AMBER criteria, so qualifying cases can receive a Silver Alert.

Indiana has no waiting period to report a missing child, and federal law requires the national database entry within two hours.

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

• Indiana Missing Person SearchOnline Search
• Indiana Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Indiana Missing Children ClearinghouseMissing Children Hotline
• Resources for Parents and GuardiansParent Resources
• Indiana Amber Alert Plan
• Family Advocacy ServicesAssistance for Families
• Code Adam
• Safety Tips for ParentsChild Safety Rules
• Indiana State Police
• Missing Kids in IndianaIndiana Missing Kids

Indiana's AMBER Alert is activated by the Indiana State Police at the request of the investigating agency when a child under 18 has been abducted, is in danger of serious harm or death, and there is enough information about the child, the suspect or a vehicle to broadcast. The State Police send the alert to broadcasters through the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the wireless emergency alert system, Department of Transportation highway signs, the Hoosier Lottery network and social media, and coordinate with the neighboring states.

• Indiana State Police AMBER AlertIndiana'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 Indiana Missing Children Clearinghouse within the Indiana State Police maintains the statewide list of missing children with photos, coordinates with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on its cases and with NamUs on long term cases, and distributes alerts. The first call goes to the local police or the county sheriff in Indiana. Ask for the case number and make sure the child has been entered into the Indiana Data and Communication System and the National Crime Information Center, and then call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police's Missing Persons Unit handles the capital's cases.

• Indiana Police DepartmentsCity police departments that take missing child reports
• Indiana County Sheriff DirectorySheriff offices for all 92 counties
• Indiana Most WantedFugitives and outstanding warrants

Indiana's Silver Alert covers missing children and adults in danger who do not meet AMBER criteria, including seniors with dementia, and the State Police broadcast it to media and online. The same holds in Indiana: 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 Access to Public Records Act, while the clearinghouse listing is public, and the agency can list a long term case in NamUs, where the public sees the entries it approves.

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

These federal and national sources complement Indiana's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Indiana 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.