Roads to Recovery: How One of NCMEC's New Technology Partners is Helping Bring Missing Children Home

When a child goes missing, time becomes the most critical factor. The faster a lead comes in, the better the chances of recovery. For decades, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has worked alongside families and law enforcement to reunite children with their loved ones. Today, that mission is strengthened by new partnerships and technologies that are changing how communities respond when a child disappears.

One such advancement is the use of License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology: cameras that help locate vehicles connected to missing children cases. In 2024, NCMEC partnered with Flock Safety to integrate this technology into AMBER Alerts and high-priority searches for endangered children. These tools have since helped recover children taken by noncustodial parents, teens lured by online predators, and young children abducted in family disputes.

“Technology that provides real-time, actionable information can be the difference between hours and days,” said John Bischoff, vice president of NCMEC’s Missing Children Division. “Our partnership with Flock Safety is one more way we’re equipping law enforcement with faster, smarter tools to help bring missing children home.”

Here's how it works: When a Flock Safety LPR camera detects a license plate associated with an AMBER Alert or other urgent missing child case, the system instantly notifies law enforcement. What once took hours of canvassing can now happen in seconds – and that power lies in Flock’s LPR network that stretches across thousands of communities and 49 U.S. states.

But the real power lies in collaboration. Through this partnership, local communities, law enforcement and national organizations like NCMEC can work from the same real-time data – creating a faster, more coordinated response.

While LPR is just one of many tools used in child recovery, it’s proving to be a valuable one. Since the partnership began, Flock Safety’s system has contributed to the safe return of more than 1,000 missing persons, including some children identified through NCMEC cases.

“When a child goes missing, every second counts,” said Garrett Langley, CEO and co-founder, Flock Safety. “Our partnership with NCMEC ensures that Flock’s technology can be deployed immediately, helping law enforcement identify vehicles linked to active cases and act fast. It’s an honor to support their life-saving mission with tools that turn information into action.”

Privacy and safety go hand in hand. Systems like Flock’s are built with community safeguards, including automatic 30-day data deletion and access controls that limit use strictly to authorized investigations. It’s a balance between smart technology and responsible oversight – ensuring that these tools serve the public without compromising trust.

What makes this model work isn’t just the technology, it’s the shared responsibility. Whether it's a neighbor installing a camera, a community choosing to opt in or a parent spreading awareness, these collective actions create a safer environment for children to grow up in.

At NCMEC, we know that behind every alert is a real child, a real family and a story that deserves a hopeful ending. With partners like Flock Safety, we’re getting one step closer to that goal – one lead, one license plate and one safe recovery at a time because every child deserves a safe childhood.