The Georgia Missing Children Center : a service of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Levi's Call: Georgia's Amber Alert is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement, emergency management, broadcasters and the Georgia Department of Transportation to issue urgent bulletins in child abduction cases. The program utilizes the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and changeable message signs along interstates to deliver vital information to the public about abducted children facing imminent danger. The alert is an investigative tool that can be activated only by local law enforcement agencies through a request to the GBI.
When an abduction is confirmed and investigators determine the case meets alert criteria, the respective GBI regional office should be contacted. (Regional offices should be called directly during business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. After hours, weekends and holidays, contact the GBI Communications Center at 404.244.2600. An operator will locate the on-call agent.)
Activation criteria
There must be a confirmed child abduction The circumstances surrounding the abduction must
indicate that the child is in danger of harm or death
The child must be 17 years of age or younger There must be enough descriptive information to
believe an immediate broadcast will help
The case must be entered into NCIC
Activation will not be granted:
Non-custodial abductions where no dangers exists
to the child
Runaways

GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Georgia Missing Children Center
404.244.2554 800.282.6564
P. O. Box 370808 Decatur, Georgia 30037-0808
www.ganet.org/gbi

The Georgia
Missing Children
CENTER
A service of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
404.244.2554 800.282.6564

The Georgia
Missing Children Center
The Georgia Missing Children Center was created by the state legislature in 1987 to assist the law enforcement community and citizens in locating missing and runaway children. The center is operated by the GBI Intelligence Unit and is staffed by an analyst who specializes in missing, abducted and runaway child cases.
Liaison Acts as a liaison between private citizens and
law enforcement regarding the appropriate procedures for handling and responding to missing child and/or runaway reports.
Contact Point Acts as a contact point for
the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and for other state clearinghouses.
Resource Uses all means available to assist local and
out-of-state law enforcement in locating abductors, missing children and runaways.
International Contact Works with the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children on Hague Convention (International) cases.

Reference Point Acts as a reference point for families seeking
guidance as to the steps required to file a missing persons report and activate a missing child case.
Frequently asked questions about Georgia law regarding missing children
Q: Is there a waiting period before a report can be filed or entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database when a child is missing or has runaway?
A: Any child reported as "missing" or "runaway" must be entered immediately into NCIC. Georgia law prohibits a law enforcement agency from establishing or maintaining required waiting periods before accepting a missing child report. (O.C.G.A 19-9-41 and the Interstate Compact on Juveniles)
Q: What are the rights of the unwed parent?
A: An unwed mother has the right to a child, even if the father's name is on the birth certificate. The father must be legitimized and then obtain custody or visitation rights. This is a two-step process. A father can be legitimated without any custody rights. If the parents were never married and no custody determination has been given, the child's name should be entered into NCIC and a warrant can be issued for the abducting father. (O.C.G.A. 19-7-25)

Q: What steps can a parent take when there is no divorce or custody determination?
A: If the parents are married and one leaves with the child, the left behind parent will need to petition the court and receive temporary custody of the child. Only temporary custody is needed to enter the child into NCIC. The abducting parent does not have to be served the temporary custody determination before assistance can be given to the left behind parent. Custody papers can be served and the child picked up at the same time. (O.C.G.A. 19-9-64)
Q: What is the response to out-of-state cases?
A: A Georgia court or law enforcement agency may utilize any remedy available under the laws of this state to enforce a child custody determination by a court of another state. (O.C.G.A. 19-9-86)
Q: If a child is taken out of the country, what are the options?
A: A Georgia court can enforce an order under the Hague Convention for the return of a child as if it were a child custody decree handed down by a Georgia court. This would include entering the abducted child's name into NCIC. (O.C.G.A. 19-9-81 and 19-9-82)