Missing Children, NCMEC, AMBER Alert, State Clearinghouse

Tennessee Missing Children

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Tennessee missing children: how the TBI issues AMBER Alerts and Endangered Child Alerts, the state missing children clearinghouse, how to report and where the records go.

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Tennessee Missing Children at a Glance

A missing child in Tennessee is reported to the city police or the county sheriff, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation coordinates the case, issues AMBER Alerts and keeps the state's missing children clearinghouse. With the case in the FBI's database and permission from a parent, guardian or the police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children can put the child on its national posters in Tennessee. There is no waiting period, and Tennessee law requires the child to be entered into the FBI's national database at once.

The TBI issues two tiers of child alert. The AMBER Alert covers abductions, and the Endangered Child Alert covers children whose disappearance is dangerous but does not meet the abduction standard, and the Bureau uses the second tier often.

Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.

Guide

How AMBER Alerts work in Tennessee

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation activates an AMBER Alert at the request of the investigating agency when a child under 18 has been abducted, is believed to be in danger of serious harm or death, and there is enough information about the child, the abductor or a vehicle to help the public. The alert reaches radio and television through the Emergency Alert System, phones through the wireless emergency alert system, the Department of Transportation highway signs, and the state lottery terminals, and it is shared with the eight bordering states. The Endangered Child Alert goes to media and online without the phone alert.

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Tennessee missing children clearinghouse and how to report

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation missing children clearinghouse keeps the statewide file of missing children and adults, posts active alerts and case listings with photos, coordinates with the National Center and NamUs, and TBI agents help local agencies with abductions and long term cases. The first call goes to the city police or the county sheriff in Tennessee. The same holds in Tennessee: ask for the case number, make sure the child has been entered into the National Crime Information Center, and then call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and Chattanooga police have their own missing persons units.

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Other Tennessee alerts and where the records go

Tennessee's Silver Alert covers missing seniors and adults with dementia or disabilities, and the TBI issues Blue Alerts for suspects who have injured or killed a law enforcement officer. The file itself stays with the investigating agency in Tennessee. Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, the incident report is public while investigative files can be withheld while a case is open, and juvenile court records are sealed. Here too, in Tennessee, NamUs, the national database of missing and unidentified persons, takes long term cases from agencies that choose to enter them, reviews each entry, and shows the public the cases the agency approves for publication.

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Federal & National Authoritative Sources

These federal and national sources complement Tennessee's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Tennessee state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

NCMEC, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Congressionally authorized national clearinghouse for missing children. NCMEC operates the 24-hour hotline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) and the CyberTipline for exploitation reports.

AMBER Alert, U.S. Department of Justice The federally coordinated AMBER Alert network. Each state operates its own plan under DOJ AMBER Alert Program guidance.

NISMART, National Incidence Study OJJDP's periodic survey of missing-child incidence in the United States, the authoritative federal statistical source.

Straight answers

Tennessee Missing Children, questions

What is an Endangered Child Alert in Tennessee?

A statewide notice issued by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for a missing child whose disappearance is dangerous but does not meet the AMBER Alert abduction standard. Tennessee is no different: it goes to media and online without the phone alert.

Who issues AMBER Alerts in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, at the request of the investigating agency, when a child under 18 has been abducted and is in danger and there is enough information to broadcast.

Is there a waiting period to report a missing child in Tennessee?

No. The same holds in Tennessee: the city police or county sheriff must take the report at once and enter the child into the FBI's national database. After that, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which can assign a case manager in Tennessee.