NCJ Number
148839
Date Published
1992
Length
340 pages
Annotation
Conducted for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, this project found that most families of missing children experienced substantial psychological consequences and emotional distress and that many brothers and sisters of missing children appeared to be isolated and forgotten as adults in the family focused their energy on the missing children.
Abstract
The project was conducted over a 3-year period at multiple sites throughout the United States. The sample included 280 families who were followed prospectively with in-home interviews. The project identified five categories of missing children: (1) nonfamily abductions in which the child was recovered alive; (2) nonfamily abductions in which the child was recovered dead; (3) nonfamily abductions involving an infant; (4) family abductions; and (5) runaways. Project findings indicated that, among families who lost a child to nonfamily abduction, the potential for child homicide as a consequence of the abductions was extremely high. The initial level of emotional distress for families in infant abduction cases was very high, and most recovered children experienced substantial psychological and emotional distress that varied over time. Family history prior to the child's disappearance significantly influenced the family's distress and the ability to cope with that distress. Most parents of missing children retained or increased their beliefs in family-oriented value systems despite the stress of child disappearance and an increase awareness of the unpredictability of life events. Almost all families of missing children primarily relied on law enforcement personnel for information, support, and intervention following child disappearance. Sixty percent of families affected by nonfamily child abductions rated law enforcement recovery efforts as highly competent. Nearly 80 percent of families did not receive mental health or counseling services, and about the same percentage did not receive local and/or regional missing child center support services. Most families of missing children wanted a more positive relationship with law enforcement, support from mental health and social service personnel who understood the unique characteristics of their situation, and information from information and support services over the length of the child's disappearance from missing child centers. Public policy recommendations resulting from the project's findings are offered. References, tables, and figures