Procedure by law enforcement agency upon receipt of report of missing child -- Transportation and return of child once located
KRS 17.460
in effect17.460. Procedure by law enforcement agency upon receipt of report of missing child -- Transportation and return of child once located
(1) Upon notification by a parent, guardian, person exercising custodial control or supervision, or the authorized representative of the Department for Community Based Services of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services if the child is a ward of the state, that a child is missing, the law enforcement agency receiving notification shall immediately complete a missing person's report in a form prescribed by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet which shall include information the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet deems necessary for the identification of the missing child, including the child's physical description, last known location, and known associates.
(2) Within twenty-four (24) hours after completion of the missing person's report form, the law enforcement agency shall transmit the report for inclusion within the Kentucky Missing Child Information Center computer and shall cause the report to be entered into the National Crime Information Center computer.
(3) Within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter, the law enforcement agency shall investigate the report, shall inform all appropriate law enforcement officers of the existence of the missing child report, and shall communicate the report to every other law enforcement agency having jurisdiction in the area.
(4) (a) Upon location of the missing child and verification of the National Crime Information Center entry, the law enforcement agency shall transport the child to the parent, guardian, or person exercising custodial control or supervision.
(b) If the child is a ward of the state, the law enforcement agency shall transport the child to the authorized representative of the Department for Community Based Services of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency.
(c) If the law enforcement agency is unable to return the child to the appropriate caretaker pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection, the law enforcement agency shall contact the court-designated worker with jurisdiction for placement determination.
(d) If the child is in custody on a charge of committing an offense pursuant to KRS Chapters 600 to 645, the law enforcement agency shall proceed according to the provisions therein.
(5) Within twenty-four (24) hours after a missing child is located and returned to the appropriate caretaker pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the law enforcement agency which transported, found, or returned the missing child shall notify both the Missing Child Information Center and the National Crime Information Center of that fact.
Effective: June 26, 2007
History: Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 97, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 93, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 14, sec. 5, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 426, sec. 75, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 414, sec. 5, effective July 14, 1992. -- Created 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 382, sec. 12, effective July 13, 1984.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=1247Fetched: 10/20/2026