NCJ Number
118488
Date Published
1989
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This book presents model laws and summarizes existing laws pertaining to missing and exploited children, with a focus on missing children, parental kidnapping, sexual abuse and exploitation, child pornography, child prostitution, prevention, child witnesses, and education and training.
Abstract
The model legislation regarding missing children features State boards and commissions on missing children, State clearinghouses, the elimination of waiting periods before missing persons investigations begin, information networks for missing persons, required data entry into the National Crime Information Center computer, the use of school records, flagging records, verification of student absences, the prevention of infant hospital abductions, and kidnapping and unlawful restraint. Model legislation pertinent to parental kidnapping focuses on interference with custody and visitation and relevant civil statutes. Among the topics covered in model legislation for sexual abuse and exploitation are reporting and investigating, information sharing, joint investigations, child protection teams, and emergency protection for the child. Prevention approaches include provision for access to criminal history information in hiring of persons who will contact children in their jobs, the registration of sex offenders, and the licensing of child care facilities. Various provisions for shielding child witnesses/victims from courtroom trauma during testimony are featured in model legislation. 15 annotated additional sources, subject index.