National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview

• NCJ Number: 196465
• Author(s): Andrea J. Sedlak; David Finkelhor; Heather Hammer; Dana J. Schultz
• Date Published: October 2002
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 95-MC-CX-K004
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse/NCJRS
• Publication Series: OJJDP NISMART Series
• Publication Format: Spreadsheet
• Publication Type: Survey; Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NISMART Bulletin Series, October 2002

Annotation

This bulletin provides an overview of findings from the Second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART-2).

Abstract

Presents an overview of the second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART-2). First in a series summarizing NISMART-2 findings, this Bulletin describes NISMART component surveys and estimating methodology and defines the types of missing child episodes studied: nonfamily abduction (including stereotypical kidnapping); family abduction; runaway/thrownaway; missing involuntary, lost, or injured; and missing benign explanation. The Bulletin also presents national estimates for children classified as caretaker missing and those reported missing to law enforcement or other agencies, by type of episode and by child's age, gender, and race/ethnicity. The authors note that only a small proportion of all missing children are victims of stereotypical kidnappings.