NCJ Number
65836
Date Published
1973
Length
114 pages
Annotation
BASED ON DATA COLLECTED IN BOMBAY, INDIA, THE REPORT DESCRIBES CHARACTERISTICS OF KIDNAPPED CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ACCUSED KIDNAPPERS.
Abstract
USING OFFICIAL POLICE AND COURT RECORDS, 100 CASES OF KIDNAPPED CHILDREN AND 43 CASES OF RUNAWAYS WHO WERE RESCUED AND RESTORED TO THEIR PARENTS WERE EXAMINED. INDIAN LEGAL CODES DESCRIBE A CHILD AS A BOY OR GIRL 16-YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER. PARENTS AND CHILDREN WERE INTERVIEWED SEPARATELY BY FEMALE INVESTIGATORS AND PROBATION OFFICERS. IN THE SAMPLE, 46 PERCENT OF THE CASES WERE YOUNG GIRLS ELOPING WITH MALE ESCORTS WHILE THE REMAINDER WERE FORCIBLY KIDNAPPED. MOST KIDNAPPING VICTIMS WERE POORLY EDUCATED GIRLS FROM IMPOVERISHED SLUM FAMILIES. SINCE THE MAJORITY MARRIED SHORTLY AFTER THE KIDNAPPING, THE INCIDENT DID NOT AFFECT THEIR PROSPECTS. IN MOST CASES THE VICTIM KNEW THE KIDNAPPER AS A NEIGHBOR, FAMILY FRIEND, OR PAYING GUEST. THE ACCUSED WERE USUALLY YOUNG UNMARRIED MALES WHO WORKED AT MENIAL JOBS. ELOPEMENT FOLLOWED BY RAPE PROVIDED THE PRINCIPAL MOTIVATION, BUT SELLING, BEGGING, USE AS DOMESTIC SERVANTS, AND VENGEANCE WERE ALSO OBSERVED. RUNAWAY CHILDREN CAME FROM LARGE, POOR, UNEDUCATED FAMILIES. THEY HAD FEW INTERESTS AND HAD BEEN NEGLECTED OR ABUSED BY THEIR PARENTS. IN THE CASES STUDIED, 58 PERCENT WERE BOYS AND 42 PERCENT GIRLS. SELECTED CASE HISTORIES ARE PRESENTED TO ILLUSTRATE MOTIVATIONS BEHIND KIDNAPPINGS. NUMEROUS TABLES ACCOMPANY THE TEXT AND BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN INTERVIEWS AND EXAMINATIONS OF POLICE RECORDS. (MJM)