Under TCA 37-10-203, within how many hours must an officer enter the missing child into NCIC?

Under TCA 37-10-203, within how many hours must an officer enter the missing child into NCIC?

• A. 4 hours
• B. 24 hours
• C. 2 hours
• D. 12 hours

Answer: (C)

Time is critical in missing-child cases, and Tennessee law requires immediate action. Under TCA 37-10-203, officers must enter information about a missing child into NCIC within two hours of receiving the report. This rapid entry makes the record visible to all participating agencies and triggers nationwide checks and alerts that support immediate search and recovery efforts. Entering later—such as four, twelve, or twenty-four hours—delays critical information sharing and hampers response, which is why the two-hour deadline is the standard. In practice, this helps ensure a coordinated, timely response across jurisdictions.

Time is critical in missing-child cases, and Tennessee law requires immediate action. Under TCA 37-10-203, officers must enter information about a missing child into NCIC within two hours of receiving the report. This rapid entry makes the record visible to all participating agencies and triggers nationwide checks and alerts that support immediate search and recovery efforts. Entering later—such as four, twelve, or twenty-four hours—delays critical information sharing and hampers response, which is why the two-hour deadline is the standard. In practice, this helps ensure a coordinated, timely response across jurisdictions.