NCJ Number
84172
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This pilot study of runaway youth considers characteristics of runaway behavior, incidence estimates, runaway services, types of runaways from an etiological perspective, and a behavioral classification system for runaway episodes.
Abstract
The estimated incidence of runaway behavior for the study areas is 3.6 percent of the youth population and 7.1 percent of the households with youth for episodes longer than 8 hours or which show serious intent to run away. For episodes of 24 hours or longer, estimates are about 1.8 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Only a minority of the runaways have left home more than three times, and the majority are gone overnight. Generally, the length of time away from home increases with age. The majority of runaways stay with friends during the episode, and about two-thirds had no contact with police. Arguments with parents and problems at home were the prevalent reasons given by youth for leaving home. Comparisons of runaways with nonrunaways showed the runaways to experience greater family stress, poorer school and peer relationships, and greater social alienation. Types of runaways are divided into the general categories of low-delinquency and high-delinquency runaways. Types of runaway episodes, are (1) spontaneous unplanned episodes, (2) deliberate successful episodes, (3) temporary 'good time' episodes, (4) difficult long-term escapist episodes, and (5) temporary escapist episodes. Illustrative graphic exhibits and tabular data are provided.