A law enforcement agency, on receiving a report of a missing child or missing person, shall: Immediately start an investigation to determine the present location of the child or person, if the subject is a child at high risk of harm or in danger, or if the subject is known to have chronic dementia.

• A. File a standard report within 24 hours
• B. Notify federal authorities immediately
• C. Immediately start an investigation to determine the present location of the child or person
• D. Track social media for clues

Answer: (C)

When a missing person or child is reported, the priority is to act immediately to locate them, especially when there’s a high risk of harm or the person has conditions like dementia. The law requires starting an investigation right away to determine where the person is now, so resources can be mobilized fast and search efforts can begin without delay. Waiting 24 hours, notifying federal authorities right away, or simply tracking social media don’t align with that urgent command to initiate immediate location efforts. This immediate action is what helps increase the chances of a safe recovery, particularly under the heightened-risk scenarios described.