### Question
How is the term missing child defined?


### Answer
The term **missing child** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 5772* as the following:

> any individual less than 18 years of age whose whereabouts are unknown to such individual's legal custodian if—


(A) the circumstances surrounding such individual's disappearance indicate that such individual may possibly have been removed by another from the control of such individual's legal custodian without such custodian's consent

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 5772*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 72-JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION > SUBCHAPTER IV-MISSING CHILDREN**

