NCJ Number
151016
Date Published
1994
Length
17 pages
Annotation
In the case of missing children, claims-makers attempt to affect the general public, especially parents, and influence official policies designed to deal with the problem.
Abstract
The issue of missing children achieved extraordinary visibility by the mid-1980's. Americans saw photographs of missing children on milk cartons and grocery bags, billboards, and televised public service messages. In addition, toy stores and fast food restaurants distributed abduction prevention tips for both parents and children. Organizations such as Child Find found it advantageous to link their cause to widespread sympathy for parents whose children were abducted by strangers. Because the missing children problem emerged quickly and involved extensive claims-making in the press, testimony before Congressional committees, billboards, and pamphlets, claims about the problem are available for analysis. While the claims refer specifically to the missing children problem, their rhetorical structure parallels claims-making for many social problems. Perhaps the most fundamental form of claims-making is to define a problem and give it a name; this involves domain and orientation statements. Claims-makers estimate the extent of the missing children problem using incidence or growth estimates and range claims. Like other forms of argument, claims-making presents conclusions and typically calls for action to alleviate or eradicate the social problem. In the case of missing children, claims-makers hope to affect the general public and the formulation of official policies with respect to awareness, prevention, and social control. The process and context of claims-making in response to social problems are described. 61 references and 21 notes