# Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-204: Reports to juvenile court judge - Missing child order > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-204 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-204 - **Heading:** Reports to juvenile court judge - Missing child order - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 37 / Chapter 10 / Section 37-10-204 ## Text (a) The law enforcement agency taking or making a report of a missing child shall submit its report, together with any additional data reduced to writing in the form of statements or notes, to a judge of the juvenile court within a reasonable time. (b) The judge shall review the report and information and determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe the child is a missing child. (c) (1) If a decision of "missing child" is made, a "missing child" order shall be issued and delivered to any lawful officer or the Tennessee bureau of investigation authorizing the bureau or any officer holding the order, a true copy thereof or possessing knowledge of the existence thereof, to investigate the circumstances relating to the missing child in compliance with existing constitutional, statutory and case law and upon identification or location of the missing child to take custody of the child, using legal process when necessary, for immediate delivery to a judge of any juvenile or other court of record for appropriate orders and disposition pursuant to law. (2) If probable cause for issuance of a "missing child" order is not found, the judge shall so order and the missing child report should be cancelled by the bureau, which shall give notice of the cancellation to all appropriate law enforcement agencies. (d) (1) If the court issues a "missing child" order pursuant to this section and believes that certain telephone records are necessary to or would be of assistance in locating such child, the court may send a copy of the "missing child" order and a written request for any telephone records the court believes to be pertinent to the missing child who is the subject of the order to any telecommunications service provider as defined in § 65-4-101 . The request shall state with all reasonable specificity the precise telephone records requested and the reason such records are pertinent to locating the missing child. (2) Upon receiving such a request, the telecommunications service provider shall, without delay and at no charge, supply the requested telephone records to the juvenile court judge issuing the request. Acts 1985, ch. 158, § 4; 2004, ch. 627, § 1. (a) The law enforcement agency taking or making a report of a missing child shall submit its report, together with any additional data reduced to writing in the form of statements or notes, to a judge of the juvenile court within a reasonable time. (b) The judge shall review the report and information and determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe the child is a missing child. (c) (1) If a decision of "missing child" is made, a "missing child" order shall be issued and delivered to any lawful officer or the Tennessee bureau of investigation authorizing the bureau or any officer holding the order, a true copy thereof or possessing knowledge of the existence thereof, to investigate the circumstances relating to the missing child in compliance with existing constitutional, statutory and case law and upon identification or location of the missing child to take custody of the child, using legal process when necessary, for immediate delivery to a judge of any juvenile or other court of record for appropriate orders and disposition pursuant to law. (2) If probable cause for issuance of a "missing child" order is not found, the judge shall so order and the missing child report should be cancelled by the bureau, which shall give notice of the cancellation to all appropriate law enforcement agencies. when necessary, for immediate delivery to a judge of any juvenile or other court of record for appropriate orders and disposition pursuant to law. (2) If probable cause for issuance of a "missing child" order is not found, the judge shall so order and the missing child report should be cancelled by the bureau, which shall give notice of the cancellation to all appropriate law enforcement agencies. (1) If a decision of "missing child" is made, a "missing child" order shall be issued and delivered to any lawful officer or the Tennessee bureau of investigation authorizing the bureau or any officer holding the order, a true copy thereof or possessing knowledge of the existence thereof, to investigate the circumstances relating to the missing child in compliance with existing constitutional, statutory and case law and upon identification or location of the missing child to take custody of the child, using legal process when necessary, for immediate delivery to a judge of any juvenile or other court of record for appropriate orders and disposition pursuant to law. (2) If probable cause for issuance of a "missing child" order is not found, the judge shall so order and the missing child report should be cancelled by the bureau, which shall give notice of the cancellation to all appropriate law enforcement agencies. (d) (1) If the court issues a "missing child" order pursuant to this section and believes that certain telephone records are necessary to or would be of assistance in locating such child, the court may send a copy of the "missing child" order and a written request for any telephone records the court believes to be pertinent to the missing child who is the subject of the order to any telecommunications service provider as defined in § 65-4-101 . The request shall state with all reasonable specificity the precise telephone records requested and the reason such records are pertinent to locating the missing child. (2) Upon receiving such a request, the telecommunications service provider shall, without delay and at no charge, supply the requested telephone records to the juvenile court judge issuing the request. (1) If the court issues a "missing child" order pursuant to this section and believes that certain telephone records are necessary to or would be of assistance in locating such child, the court may send a copy of the "missing child" order and a written request for any telephone records the court believes to be pertinent to the missing child who is the subject of the order to any telecommunications service provider as defined in § 65-4-101 . The request shall state with all reasonable specificity the precise telephone records requested and the reason such records are pertinent to locating the missing child. (2) Upon receiving such a request, the telecommunications service provider shall, without delay and at no charge, supply the requested telephone records to the juvenile court judge issuing the request. Acts 1985, ch. 158, § 4; 2004, ch. 627, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-101 Recovery for injury or damage by juvenile](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-102 Limitation on amount of recovery](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-103 Circumstances under which parent or guardian liable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-201 Short title - Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-202 Timely report of missing child - Offense of failure to report missing child - Defense - False allegation of failure to report](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-203 Formal missing child report - Entry of report into NCIC](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-204 Reports to juvenile court judge - Missing child order](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-205 Forms - File of missing children - Monthly reports of missing children - Dissemination of information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-206 Child fingerprint cards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-206.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-207 Children's fingerprint card file](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-207.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-208 Impact upon interstate compact on juveniles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-208.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-209 Distribution of materials concerning missing children - Solicitation of contributions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-209.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-301 Legislative intent and findings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-301.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-10-302 Part definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-302.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T37_C10_S37-10-204. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.