How to File a Missing Person Report in the USA

This article was co-authored by Saul Jaeger, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.

This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.

This article has been viewed 267,842 times.

Realizing that someone you know is missing is never easy, and reporting their disappearance allows law enforcement to conduct specific searches to increase your chances of finding them. Whether you’re a parent reporting a missing child or a relative searching for a lost family member, we’ll help you every step of the way. Follow these instructions and tips on properly filing a missing person’s report so your loved one can be found as soon as possible.