Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children in America

The release of the First Report from the National Incidence
Studies, Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children in
America, marks the beginning of a new era of better understanding of
the extent and nature of these problems. For nearly a decade, the
lack of accurate information on missing children in America has
hampered the development of policies and allocation of resources.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
sponsored this seminal study of missing children by the University
of New Hampshire in response to a congressional mandate of the
Missing Children's Act. Through this and other research, the office
has come to recognize that the problem of missing children is not
singular, nor is it wholly separated from the problems of delinquency
with which the Office also deals. As is true of the latter, the
incidence of missing children is composed of different social
problems greatly stemming from the weakening of the American family.
Effectively preventing and dealing with the multifaceted
problems of missing children requires accurate, reliable information.
Therefore, the incidence studies focused on identifying risk factors,
on the children's experiences, and on the responses of parents and
police.

The release of these first findings culminates a 5-year effort.
While these studies were carefully designed to answer as many
questions as possible, we also recognize that the results may raise
new questions for which answers will be needed. The office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is continuing to sponsor
research to find the facts and to develop useful programs that will
protect children and reduce delinquency.