Police stressed that Idaho law has no waiting period before filing a missing person report, and anyone with information about missing people should call the police.
IDAHO, USA — Idaho State Police joined law enforcement agencies nationwide Sunday in commemorating National Missing Children’s Day, emphasizing ongoing efforts to locate missing youth and strengthen community awareness.
“The issue of missing children is deeply personal,” said Col. Bill Gardiner. “Behind every case is a family searching for answers. As a broader community, we won’t stop looking, and we won’t stop caring.”
The annual observance, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, focuses attention on cases of missing children and reinforces the importance of public engagement in recovery efforts.
Gov. Brad Little issued a proclamation designating May 25 as Missing Children’s Day in Idaho, underscoring the state’s dedication to protecting every child’s safety and welfare.
Data from the Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse shows about 50 juveniles are missing statewide, representing part of roughly 180 active missing person cases across Idaho. The clearinghouse operates under Idaho State Police oversight.
Each missing person case represents an individual with family connections, school relationships and community ties, officials emphasized.
The Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse provides multiple services in response to missing person incidents, including round-the-clock hotline assistance for reporting and support, law enforcement data analysis and case tracking support, coordination with state and federal partners such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and specialized training programs for investigators and emergency responders.
The police stressed that Idaho law requires no waiting period before filing a missing person report. Cases involving runaways, suspected abductions or individuals with medical or developmental vulnerabilities require immediate reporting for effective response.
Community members should contact 911 or local law enforcement to report missing persons. Anyone possessing information about missing individuals should immediately notify authorities.
Current missing person listings and additional information are available at www.isp.idaho.gov/missing-persons.
