ID kits being sent to 162,000 Indiana children

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana officials are distributing more than 162,000 child identification kits to kindergartners and first graders across the state to help authorities locate the youngsters if they go missing.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and others announced Tuesday that the state is joining the National FBI Child ID program.

The ID kits have parents to record the physical characteristics and fingerprints of their children on cards that are then kept at home. If ever needed, the kit will help investigators in their search.

The FBI says the kits contain 80 percent of the initial information authorities ask for when a child goes missing.