Frequently Asked Questions

he main purpose of the program is to capture identifying information about your child on a SAFE CHILD card. The same information is stored in a statewide database. The storage of this information is entirely voluntary and requires the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.

In addition to quickly providing important details to police agencies investigating child disappearances, the SAFE CHILD card can be used in conjunction with the New York State AMBER Alert and Missing Child Alert programs. If a child goes missing, the SAFE CHILD program allows their information to be electronically disseminated within minutes, significantly increasing the possibility of bringing a missing child home.

The information is stored in a database at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). When DCJS receives a missing child report, the fingerprints of that child are compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS. A parent or lawful guardian can request that the information be purged from the database at any time. When a child turns 18, the fingerprints are automatically purged from the database.