More than 300 children still missing out of Virginia this National Missing Persons Day

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- More than 300 children are currently missing out of Virginia this National Missing Persons Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 3 is National Missing Persons Day. On this day, Virginia State Police (VSP) shared information about how missing persons cases are handled in the Commonwealth.

While nearly all missing persons cases are investigated at the local level in Virginia, local agencies can partner with VSP to have statewide alerts issued, should VSP determine the case meets the necessary criteria.

Virginia has several types of missing persons alerts. Those alerts and their criteria are as follows:

• Amber Alerts: Issued for missing children who are believed to have been abducted.
• CODI Alerts: Issued for missing children who are believed to be endangered, but are not believed to have been abducted.
• Missing Persons With Autism Alerts: Issued for a missing person with autism who is believed to be endangered.
• Critically Missing Adult Alerts: Issued for a missing adult who is believed to be endangered.
• Senior Alerts: Issued for a missing person who is 60 years old or older and believed to be endangered.
• Blue Alerts: Issued after a law enforcement officer has gone missing and is believed to be endangered, or if a law enforcement officer has been killed or seriously injured by a suspect who has not been apprehended and is believed to pose a public threat.

Additionally, VSP can use Wireless Emergency Alert and Emergency Alerts System broadcasts to "rapidly" inform the public about emergent cases like these.

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VSP also oversees the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse, which is linked to all of the state's law enforcement agencies, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

"Missing children cases receive an intense focus," VSP said in the release. "When a child (under the age of 21) goes missing, investigating agencies have TWO HOURS to report it to Virginia State Police."

As of the time of reporting, the NCMEC lists 322 active cases of missing children in Virginia.

There are several things parents and guardians can do to help protect their children from becoming one of these cases, according to VSP. Here's a few tips:

• Help them practice calling 911. Teach your child how to dial 911 on both a cell phone and a landline. When practicing with a landline, unplug it or take out its batteries.
• Teach them to be wary of strangers. Make sure your child knows they should never accept a ride from a stranger, nor should they go off alone with a stranger, no matter what the stranger says to them.
• Encourage them not to keep secrets. Talk to your child about how inappropriate it is for another adult to suggest they keep something a secret from you.

VSP also strongly advised parents and guardians not to leave their children alone in their cars, "even for a minute."

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State police encourage the public to come forward if they have any information that could help investigators find people who are currently missing, or if they know anything that could help solve one of the state's cold cases. You can find the Virginia Cold Case Database here.