Elliana Conrad's winning poster will inspire the logo and artwork for National Missing Children's Day next year.

President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, as the first National Missing Children’s Day in memory of 6-year-old Etan Patz, who disappeared while walking to his bus stop in lower Manhattan on May 25, 1979. National Missing Children’s Day honors his memory as well as those children still missing.

Every May, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has observed National Missing Children’s Day with a ceremony that recognizes significant contributions by law enforcement and private citizens to protect children from harm. On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s in-person ceremony was canceled. OJJDP has created a special National Missing Children’s Day microsite on the OJJDP website to mark the occasion. The microsite features detailed information about the 2020 National Missing Children’s Day awardees and statements from the Attorney General as well as leaders of the Office of Justice Programs, OJJDP, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. In addition, the site provides access to OJJDP and OJJDP-supported reports, tools, and training resources.

Following are summaries of the National Missing Children’s Day awards and this year’s award recipients:

The Attorney General’s Special Commendation recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, an affiliate agency, or an individual assigned to an ICAC task force or affiliate agency—for making a significant investigative or program contribution to the ICAC Task Force program. This year’s award recipients are Wisconsin ICAC Task Force Commander Matthew Joy and Special Agent in Charge Jesse Crowe, ICAC Supervisor for the Western District of Wisconsin. In 2019, these individuals played a central role in the recovery of a 14-year-old girl who had been transported across state lines by a suspected child molester with whom she had been chatting online. The perpetrator is now serving a sentence of 11 years and 3 months in federal prison.

The Missing Children's Citizen Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of private citizens for their unselfish acts to safely recover missing or abducted children. This year’s award recipient is JoAnn Donovan of Punta Gorda, FL, a school bus driver for special needs students. When a 15-year-old girl with autism living in foster care did not board the school bus one day in May 2019, Ms. Donovan provided information to police officers that led to the arrest of her biological mother. The mother pled no contest to kidnapping, interference with custody, and removing a minor from the state. She will spend 2 years in jail.

The Missing Children's Law Enforcement Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to the safety of children. This year’s award recipient is Senior Inspector Gerald Dysart of the U.S. Marshals Service in New Orleans, LA. Mr. Dysart provided the expertise and guidance that, over several months, forged Operation Empty Nest in April 2019. The Atlanta, GA, operation recovered missing children who were victims of sex trafficking, exploitation, and sexual and physical abuse. In addition, Mr. Dysart played a central role in the creation of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Missing Child Unit.

The Missing Children's Child Protection Award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of law enforcement officers who have made a significant investigative or program contribution to protecting children from abuse or victimization. This year’s award recipients are detectives Chastity Burke, Dennis Miller, Keith Earney, Jason Turner, Ruben Escobar, and Eugene Mefford of the Child Protection Unit at the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Daytona Beach, FL. In May 2019, the six detectives brought a pedophile to justice and rescued two child victims within 6 hours of executing an emergency search warrant.

Each year, OJJDP invites fifth graders to participate in the National Missing Children's Day poster contest. The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss child safety strategies with youth, parents, and guardians. Elliana Conrad from Antonia Crater Elementary School in Newberg, OR, accepted the 2020 National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest Award.

Resources:

Read the Office of Justice Programs blog commemorating National Missing Children’s Day.

Access child abduction resources and information about the OJJDP-supported Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force program, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the AMBER Alert program.

Learn about the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program’s new investigative checklists to help tribal law enforcement respond effectively to cases of missing and abducted children.

Access the National Criminal Justice Training Center’s selection of recorded webinars on endangered, missing, and abducted children.