Office of Justice Programs Awards More Than $28.3 Million To National Center For Missing And Exploited Children

WASHINGTON— The Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) today announced the award of more than $28.3 million in funding to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to support efforts to prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation.

OJJDP has partnered with NCMEC for more than 30 years to respond to incidents of child abductions and to bring children home safely. The Center was created to build a coordinated national response to missing and sexually exploited children, establish a missing children hotline, and serve as the national clearinghouse for information and resources related to missing and exploited children.

The grant award will be used to fund the Center’s operations and to provide support, technical assistance and training to assist law enforcement in locating and recovering missing and exploited children.

“Enhancing public safety, which includes protecting our children, is a fundamental priority of our Office,” said OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry. “These funds will help continue the center’s critical work in locating missing children, preventing the exploitation of children and supporting those who work tirelessly every day to protect our youth.”

NCMEC was created in 1984 by John and Reve Walsh and other child advocates following a series of well-publicized child abductions, including that of their son, Adam.

For more information about the Center, including specific programs and services offered, visit www.missingkids.org. Media desiring to contact the Center can do so online at www.missingkids.org/Media.

About the Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Alan R. Hanson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.