The Orange County District Attorney's Office (OCDA) Child Abduction Unit was formed in response to a State mandate established in 1977 outlined in California Family Code Sections 3130 - 3131.
Family Code Section 3130 provides that in some cases where there is an order to appear for purposes of adjudication of custody, the District Attorney shall take all actions necessary to locate the party and the child and to procure compliance with the order to appear with the child.
Family Code Section 3131 provides that where an order exists and the child is taken or detained by another person in violation of the order, the District Attorney shall take all actions necessary to locate and return the child and the person violating the order and assist in the enforcement of court orders through civil or criminal proceedings.
The responsibilities of the OCDAs Child Abduction Unit include the following:
1. Locating and recovering abducted children;
2. Enforcing child custody and visitation orders;
3. Prosecuting crimes involving child abduction, detainment, and concealment*, and
4. Returning recovered children to their legal custodian.
*Prosecution of the abductor is considered on a case by case basis. If the case is prosecuted, the left behind parent is considered the victim/witness. The OCDA then prosecutes the abductor on behalf of the State of
California. The District Attorney represents the People of the State of California and the Superior Court and is forbidden by law from representing either party in a child custody and/or visitation dispute.
To report a missing child please click on the link below and follow the instructions.
MISSING CHILD QUESTIONNAIRE
Orange County's Missing Abducted Children
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
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