In 2001, 840,279 missing persons (adults and children) were reported to
the police and entered into the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This represents the smallest number of missing persons reports
since 1992 (801,358).
The FBI estimates that 85-90% of missing persons are juveniles. In
approximately 725,000 cases (or 2,000 per day) the disappearance of a
child/adult was serious enough that a parent called the police, the police took a report and
entered the report into the NCIC.
The 2001 missing persons reports were down 4.1% from 2000. The total increase since the passage of the Missing Children's Act in 1982 is 444% (154,341 in 1982 vs. 840,279 in 2001).
The primary NCIC categories in which missing persons
reports are entered are:
"Juvenile" - 651,209 cases, (down 5% from 2000) Police enter most missing children cases in "Juvenile," including some non-family abductions where there is not evidence of foul play.
"Endangered" - 119,237 cases (a decrease of 1.2% from 2000). Adults and Juveniles defined as "missing and in the company of another person under circumstances indicating that his/her physical safely is in danger.
"Involuntary"> - 28,765 cases (a decrease of 8.8% from 2000) Adults and juveniles missing under circimstances indicating that the disappearance was not voluntary;
(i.e abduction or kidnapping).
*Source found at: Families of Missing Loved Ones