Deck 12: Missing and Abducted Persons

Question 1

What is considered by many to be the most comprehensive legislation ever designed to ensure the safety of children?

A)Jessica's Law
B)Blue Code
C)Code Adam
D)The PROTECT Act

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about nonfamily abduction cases?

A)It is the most complex and dangerous type of missing child case.
B)Abductions of newborns and infants from hospitals are NOT included in this category.
C)The parents usually willingly give the child to the abductor because they believe the child will be safely returned within a few hours.
D)There is less concern about time than with other types of missing children cases.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The responding officer in a missing child case should first interview the parents or person who made the initial report and then immediately:

A)verify that the child is in fact missing.
B)notify his or her supervisor.
C)request that an investigator take over the investigation.
D)initiate an Amber Alert.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a case in which a child is abducted and murdered?

A)The majority of victims are girls.
B)The average age of the victims is just under six years old.
C)The victims are considered "low risk" leading normal lives and living with normal families.
D)The initial contact between the victim and the killer takes place within ¼ mile from the victim's residence.

Question 5

Why do child predators use the Internet to lure victims?

A)Children and teens have no way to know exactly who they are taking to.
B)Chatrooms provide anonymity.
C)Both the child and the predator have easy access to the worldwide web.
D)All of the above.

Question 6

Which one of the following is NOT one of the criteria that law enforcement agencies should use in deciding whether to broadcast a missing child?

A)They reasonably believe that an abduction has occurred.
B)They believe that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury.
C)They know that the child is age 10 or younger.
D)They have the child's name and other critical data elements.

Question 7

Approximately how many children are abducted and murdered in the U.S.each year?

A)25
B)65
C)100
D)250

Question 8

What percentage of the killers of children had prior arrests for violent crimes?

A)10%
B)16%
C)42%
D)61%

Question 9

An officer responding to a missing child complaint should avoid:

A)safeguarding evidence until interviews are completed.
B)making assumptions that might cause him or her to overlook crucial information and evidence.
C)interviewing parents as each may be a suspect in the disappearance of the child.
D)gathering factual information quickly.

Question 10

In 1997,the U.S.Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention (OJJDP)reported that 74 percent of children who are murdered during stranger kidnappings are killed:

A)within the first month of the event.
B)within the first few days of the event.
C)within the first week of the event.
D)within the first few hours of the event.

Question 11

Which of the following is an internationally-recognized "missing child" safety program in the United States (and Canada)that was originally created by Wal-Mart retail stores in 1994?

A)Amber Alert
B)Blue Code
C)Code Adam
D)Code Amber

Question 12

The voluntary runaway child is:

A)usually a loner.
B)probably living with the noncustodial parent.
C)the least likely missing child to be found alive.
D)the most common missing child case encountered by law enforcement.

Question 13

Which of the following organizations developed a 16-step checklist for first responders in missing children cases?

A)The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
B)The Emergency Operations Center
C)The National Incidence Studies of Missing,Abducted,Runaway and Throwaway Children
D)None of the above.

Question 14

In a missing child investigation,which of the following people should officers interview first?

A)The child's friends
B)The child's parents or the person who made the initial report
C)Neighbors
D)Anyone who could potentially be a witness

Question 15

Many experts believe the first few hours after a child goes missing are most dangerous in which of the following situations?

A)Runaway child
B)Nonfamily abduction
C)Family abduction
D)Hiding child

Question 16

Dispatch personnel should,to the degree possible,also provide responding officers with an overview of any agency records concerning the child and family,such as:

A)juvenile delinquency reports on the child or siblings.
B)history of violence or child abuse calls.
C)runaway reports on the child or siblings.
D)All of the above.

Question 17

In general,missing children cases fall into which three basic categories?

A)Abduction,runaway child,lost child
B)Nonfamily abduction,family abduction,runaway or lost child
C)Family abduction,runaway child,lost child
D)Missing-endangered,missing-nonendangered,whereabouts unknown-endangered

Question 18

Family abductions usually occur:

A)when one spouse has a job transfer.
B)in conjunction with divorce and separation.
C)when spouses have minor misunderstandings.
D)when grandparents want to spend more time with their grandchildren.

Question 19

The first step in the investigation of child abduction is to:

A)make an inquiry to the NCIC's missing person file.
B)probe registered sex offender records.
C)determine if the child is a pawn in a family dispute.
D)check Internet chat rooms for discussion of the missing child.

Question 20

What should officers do in missing children cases when the parents are either divorced or separated?

A)Initiate an Amber Alert.
B)Investigate the possibility of an abduction of the child by the noncustodial parent.
C)Tactfully tell the parent that this is not a situation for the police and he or she should contact an attorney for legal advice/action.
D)Obtain a warrant for the noncustodial parent.

Question 21

Parents or guardians of older children often know more about the child's attitudes,emotions,and plans than the child's friends.

Question 22

Family abductions usually occur in conjunction with divorce and separation.

Question 23

Most killers of abducted children are unmarried.

Question 24

Which of the following is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law,as well as laws in several other states,designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to reoffend?

A)Amber's Law
B)Adam's Law
C)Megan's Law
D)Jessica's Law

Question 25

Today,many department stores,retail shops,shopping malls,supermarkets,amusement parks,and museums participate in the Code Adam program.

Question 26

As the interview of an abduction suspect progresses,the effective investigator may obtain more answers by being argumentative,attempting to manipulate the suspect's words to encourage admissions or a confession.

Question 27

It is recommended by the NCMEC that a law enforcement agency limit publicizing missing children incidents in order to maintain investigative integrity,ensure purer interrogations,and limit the frightening of communities needlessly.

Question 28

The majority of children who are abducted and murdered are girls.

Question 29

Which of the following is the informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders?

A)Amber's Law
B)Adam's Law
C)Megan's Law
D)Sarah's Law

Question 30

Those children who are taken in nonfamily abduction cases are removed by force or:

A)Trickery
B)Bribery
C)Inducement
D)Corruption

Question 31

Obtaining a brief,recent history of family dynamics will help the investigator hypothesize about various possibilities involving the disappearance of the child.

Question 32

Most abducted children are taken by strangers.

Question 33

Police officers must be extremely cautious in labeling,or classifying,a missing child case since the classification process will affect the way in which initial evidence or information is gathered.

Question 34

A proper question to ask an abduction suspect during an interview is,"What do you think should happen to someone who would do this?"

Question 35

An estimated 90% of kidnapping episodes last less than how many hours:

A)12
B)18
C)24
D)36

Question 36

The most common missing child case encountered by law enforcement is the family abduction case.

Question 37

Legislation enacted by Congress in 2003 now mandates that all federal office buildings use Amber Alert program.

Question 38

A kidnapping is recognized as a crime that is most harmful to a child,psychologically and physically.

Question 39

The Child Protection Bill,signed in 2003,encourages states to establish Amber Alert systems.

Question 40

People who kill children through child abduction are at an average of:

A)21
B)24
C)27
D)30

Question 41

_____ Law is the informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders.

Question 42

In ______ abductions,the child is removed without authorization from his or her family by force or trickery.

Question 43

The _____ _____ system disseminates information to the general public about kidnappers and sexual predators and their vehicles via highway signs,television,and radio broadcasts.

Question 44

Matching
Locate the correct matches from Column 1 to Column 2

Question 45

_____ Law is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law,as well as laws in several other states,designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to reoffend.

Question 46

Discuss and identify how authorities decide if a missing child fits the criteria of an endangered child for national broadcast.

Question 47

In general,missing children cases fall into three basic categories.Define each and briefly discuss the risks to the child in each category.

Question 48

There are 16 steps commonly associated with the responsibilities of the first responder on a child abduction/missing person case.Define a minimum of ten steps and complete all sixteen if possible.

Question 49

The average age of killers of abducted children is _____ years old.

Question 50

The ______ child is the most common missing child case.

Question 51

_____ abductions are often complex cases involving court orders,child protection services,and hidden agendas.

Question 52

Code _____ is an internationally-recognized "missing child" safety program in the U.S.and Canada,originally created by Wal-Mart.

Question 53

You are walking down the street and notice in the front of a business that a Code Adam decal exists within the organization.You know that employees of this business are trained to follow six steps to ensure the safe recovery of children.Identify these six steps and provide your opinion if more businesses should implement this policy.If so,why? If not,why not?

Question 54

You have just responded to a local grocery store in response to a child abduction.You are told that there is a dispute between a mother and the missing child's father,who does not have custody or visitation of the child.The mother states that the father is mad at her because he has no rights to the child,therefore taking her to an unknown location.The mother states that the father is a convicted child molester.At this point in your investigation you need to determine if you meet the criteria for a nationwide broadcast.Identify the checklist which meets this requirement.

Question 55

The motive in cases involving abducted children is often _____.